Why Does Santa Say “Ho Ho Ho”? The Origin of Santa's Famous Laugh
Discover how written laughter, 19th-century Christmas songs, Oz author L. Frank Baum, and modern media turned three simple words into Santa's iconic catchphrase.
If you've ever heard Santa laugh, you probably heard the same three words: “Ho ho ho!” But why this particular laugh? Why not “ha ha ha,” like most people write when they laugh?
The answer is more interesting than it first appears. Santa did not suddenly invent the phrase, and the famous 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas did not actually give him the “Ho Ho Ho” laugh. Instead, the expression developed gradually through older forms of written laughter, Christmas songs, stories, and later movies and performances.
Santa says “Ho Ho Ho” because it became the traditional written representation of his deep, hearty belly laugh. The phrase was not invented by one single person or company. Instead, “ho” already represented laughter in 19th-century English literature, which was gradually connected to Santa through Christmas songs, L. Frank Baum's 1902 book The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, radio, and film.
What Does “Ho Ho Ho” Mean?
“Ho Ho Ho” simply means that Santa is laughing.
It is not a secret Christmas code, short for “Happy Holidays,” or an ancient translation of Saint Nicholas's name. It is a stylized phonetic representation of a deep, warm belly laugh. In modern Christmas storytelling, it also functions as an entrance announcement—instantly signaling to listeners that Santa has arrived.
Did Santa Always Say “Ho Ho Ho”?
No, Santa did not always use “Ho Ho Ho.”
Santa's character developed over many generations. Early Christmas stories used different descriptions and different forms of laughter. To understand how his image evolved overall, check out our guide to the history of Santa Claus or read about who Saint Nicholas was.
The 1823 Santa Poem Did Not Invent “Ho Ho Ho”
The 1823 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” describes Santa laughing, but it does NOT contain the phrase “Ho Ho Ho.”
First published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel on December 23, 1823 (and traditionally attributed to Clement Clarke Moore), the famous poem describes St. Nicholas having a belly that “shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.”
Why the 1823 Misconception Persists:
Because the poem strongly connected Santa with a jolly, laughing personality, many modern websites incorrectly assert that the text includes “Ho Ho Ho.” Archival copies of the original 1823 text confirm that while Santa laughs, the exact catchphrase “Ho Ho Ho” does not appear anywhere in the poem!
Where Did “Ho Ho Ho” Come From?
“Ho Ho Ho” existed as a form of written English laughter centuries before it became associated with Santa Claus.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, repeated “ho” sounds were used by English writers to represent deep, booming, or jolly laughter. Authors like Charles Dickens used repeated “ho” sounds in 19th-century literature to depict joyful characters laughing warmly.
How Songs and Literature Connected the Laugh to Santa
Christmas music and 20th-century literature cemented “Ho Ho Ho” as Santa's personal laugh:
Christmas Songs (1866–1867)
Benjamin Hanby's 1866 song “Up on the Housetop” and William B. Bradbury's 1867 Kris Kringle sheet music introduced vocal refrains using “O” and “ho” sounds around Santa Claus.
L. Frank Baum (1902)
In The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, Oz author L. Frank Baum explicitly wrote Santa laughing with a combination of “ho, ho, ho” and “ha, ha, ha” as he traveled through the snow.
Why “Ho” Instead of “Ha”—and Why Three Times?
Ordinary laughter is written as “ha ha ha.” Santa says “ho ho ho” because the deeper vowel sound creates a heavier, more resonant vocal tone. That fits the image of a large, jolly, older man with a deep voice.
Why Three Times?
Three “hos” became the cultural convention because a three-part repetition has a natural, memorable rhythm in spoken English. It is easy for actors, performers, and parents to deliver dramatically!
Did Coca-Cola Invent Santa's “Ho Ho Ho”?
No. Coca-Cola did not invent “Ho Ho Ho.”
While Coca-Cola's 1931 advertising popularized Haddon Sundblom's visual image of Santa, literary and musical references to Santa's “ho ho ho” laugh existed decades earlier.
20th-century radio broadcasts, department store Santas, and movies (such as Disney's 1932 animated short Santa's Workshop) gave Santa a real voice, standardizing the laugh for global audiences.
Santa's Laugh: Myth vs. Fact
Timeline of Santa's Famous Laugh
| Year | Historical Milestone | Cultural Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1823 | A Visit from St. Nicholas published | Establishes Santa's jolly personality and laughing belly, but does NOT contain 'Ho Ho Ho'. |
| 1836 | Dickens uses repeated 'ho' laughter | Demonstrates 'ho' already functioned as written laughter in 19th-century literature. |
| 1866 | Hanby publishes 'Santa Claus' ('Up on the Housetop') | Early Christmas song introducing repeated vocal refrains around Santa. |
| 1867 | William B. Bradbury Kris Kringle song | Repeated 'ho' sounds appear directly in popular Christmas sheet music. |
| 1877 | Newspaper references to Santa laughing 'ho' | The phrase becomes increasingly tied to holiday newspaper portrayals of Santa. |
| 1902 | L. Frank Baum publishes The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus | Santa directly laughs 'ho, ho, ho' in a full-length published Christmas book. |
| 1932 | Disney releases Santa's Workshop animated short | Shows Santa still using 'ha ha ha' alongside 'ho ho ho', proving laugh was still evolving. |
| 20th Century | Radio, TV, film, and department store Santas standardize laugh | 'Ho Ho Ho' becomes the universally recognized voice performance of Santa Claus. |
Who Actually Popularized “Ho Ho Ho”?
No single person created Santa's laugh. Instead, a succession of writers, composers, and performers built the tradition:
| Historical Figure / Medium | Contribution to Santa's Laugh |
|---|---|
| Clement Clarke Moore / 1823 Poem | Established Santa's jolly, laughing belly image, creating the foundation for a cheerful character. |
| Charles Dickens | Popularized repeated 'ho' sounds in Victorian literature as a representation of deep, hearty laughter. |
| Benjamin Hanby (1866) | Wrote 'Up on the Housetop', helping connect vocal musical refrains to Santa Claus. |
| William B. Bradbury (1867) | Published early Kris Kringle sheet music featuring written 'ho ho' vocalizations. |
| L. Frank Baum (1902) | Featured Santa directly using 'ho, ho, ho' in The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. |
| Radio, Film & Live Santas | Transformed written text into a standardized vocal performance heard in broadcasts worldwide. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Santa say “Ho Ho Ho”?
Santa says “Ho Ho Ho” because it became the traditional written representation of his deep, hearty laugh. It developed over time through literature, songs, books, and film.
What does “Ho Ho Ho” mean?
It represents laughter. In Santa stories, it expresses joy, warmth, amusement, and his jolly personality.
When did Santa start saying “Ho Ho Ho”?
There is no single start date. The phrase became tied to Santa during the 19th century, and L. Frank Baum used “ho, ho, ho” in his 1902 Santa book.
Is “Ho Ho Ho” in The Night Before Christmas?
No. The 1823 poem describes Santa laughing, but does not contain the phrase “Ho Ho Ho.”
Did Clement Clarke Moore invent “Ho Ho Ho”?
No. The 1823 poem traditionally attributed to Moore does not include the phrase.
Who invented Santa's laugh?
No single person invented it. The laugh evolved through English literature, songs, L. Frank Baum, radio, and 20th-century performers.
Why does Santa say “Ho” instead of “Ha”?
“Ho” creates a deeper, more resonant vocal sound that fits the traditional image of a large, jolly, older man with a deep voice.
Why does Santa say “Ho Ho Ho” three times?
Three “hos” became popular because a three-part repetition is rhythmic, easy to remember, and simple for performers to deliver.
Did Coca-Cola invent “Ho Ho Ho”?
No. The phrase was associated with Santa before Coca-Cola's famous 1931 advertising campaigns.
Is “Ho Ho Ho” a greeting?
Technically no. It is laughter, although Santa frequently pairs it with “Merry Christmas!”
Did Santa ever say “Ha Ha Ha”?
Yes. Early 20th-century books and Disney's 1932 Santa's Workshop show Santa laughing with “ha ha ha.”
Why is Santa's laugh so deep?
The deep laugh matches the traditional visual image of Santa as a robust, cheerful man with a round belly and warm persona.
Is “Ho Ho Ho” a real historical phrase?
Yes, repeated “ho” expressions existed in written English to represent laughter before becoming specifically associated with Santa.
Conclusion: A Laugh That Echoes Across Generations
Santa's “Ho Ho Ho” is not a phrase created in a single moment by one inventor. It developed over generations. The sound “ho” was already used in English literature to write deep laughter, while Christmas songs, books, and performers gradually connected it to Santa.
The biggest misconception is that Santa was already saying “Ho Ho Ho” in the 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas. He was not. The poem established Santa's jolly character, but later writers, song composers, radio actors, and film performers gave him his famous voice.
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Clara Sterling
Holiday Editor & HistorianClara Sterling is a cultural historian and lifestyle writer specializing in Christmas traditions, holiday folklore, and winter solstice celebrations.