Santas Warned 'Ho Ho Ho' Offensive To Women

Santas in Australia's largest city have been told not to use Santa Claus' traditional "ho ho ho" greeting because it may be offensive to women.

Sydney's Santa Clauses have instead been instructed to say "ha ha ha" instead, reports the Daily Telegraph.

One disgruntled Santa tells 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 slang term for prostitute.

"Gimme a break," says Julie Gale, who runs a children's club in the city. "We are talking about little kids who do not understand that 'ho, ho, ho' has any other connotation and nor should they."

"Leave Santa alone," she says.

A spokesman for the US-based recruitment firm said it was "misleading" to say the company had banned Santa's traditional greeting and it was leaving it up to the discretion of the individual Santa himself.

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