'Ho, ho, ho' offensive to women?

This is an example of how modern languages have devolved.

ReligionAndSpirituality.com | November 15, 2007

Department store Santa Clauses in Australia's largest city were told not to use Santa's traditional "ho ho ho" greeting because it might be offensive to women, it was reported Thursday. Sydney's Santas were told to say "ha ha ha" instead, the Daily Telegraph reported.

One disgruntled Santa told the newspaper a recruitment firm warned him not to use "ho ho ho" because it could frighten children and was too close to "ho", a U.S. slang term for prostitute. "Gimme a break," said Julie Gale, who runs the campaign against sexualising children called Kids Free 2B Kids, AFP reported Thursday.

"We are talking about little kids who do not understand that 'ho, ho, ho' has any other connotation and nor should they," she told the Telegraph. "Leave Santa alone."

A spokesman for the U.S.-based Westaff recruitment firm said it was "misleading" to say the company banned Santa's traditional greeting and it was being left up to the discretion of the individual Santa. -- © Copyright 2007 United Press International, Inc