Santa Claus is traditionally said to shout “Ho ho ho” when laughing in Christmas stories.
The phrase is a written representation of a deep, hearty laugh and has become one of Santa’s most recognizable verbal traits. Illustrators, greeting cards, advertisements, films, television programs, and seasonal performances use it to signal Santa’s jolly personality before or during his arrival.
“Ho ho ho” is not a quotation from the historical Saint Nicholas. It belongs to the modern fictional and folkloric Santa character, whose image combines Christian legend, European gift-bringer traditions, 19th-century literature, and later popular culture.
The expression can vary in punctuation and typography. Some versions use commas, exclamation marks, or repeated words, but the familiar canonical form is “Ho ho ho.” It is also associated with Santa’s deep voice, white beard, red clothing, and cheerful manner.