UPDATE: Winner–comment #22, Brandy. Email me with your address! (Contact button at the top of the sidebar!) :heart:
I love cows. I love cows almost as much as I love sheep and ducks. I wish I’d lived in the country when my kids were little because some of my favorite memories from their young childhoods are the times we did happen by cows and I could say, “Look! Cows! Cows go moo!” Three-year-olds love that. Now, we drive by cows every day. And even though my kids are 11, 14, and 16, I still say, “Look! Cows! Cows go moo!” They just don’t appreciate it as much as they did when they were little. I like to say it anyway. Can you even say the word moo without smiling? Try saying it three times in a row, especially in front of someone else, and you’ll be cracking up. There is just something about the word moo that feels good. It’s like all the joy and nonsense of childhood rolled up in one three-letter word. You just can’t say moo and not be happy.
There was a story on the news recently about how Santa shouldn’t say ho, ho, ho anymore. (There was also a story about how he needs to thin up because his weight sets a bad example. I’m thinking–is he not jolly? Has he not lived for a thousand years and more despite his girth? Let the man have his cookies.) There’s some idea that Santa needs to say ha, ha, ha instead. Initially this was reported as a move to avoid offending women, but the story now is that ho, ho, ho is too frightening for children. (If a skinny old man in a weird outfit shouting ha, ha, ha isn’t frightening, I don’t know what is.)
I know one thing for sure. Out here in the boonies, Santa is going to keep saying ho, ho, ho. And when we put cookies out for him, they’re going to be made with real butter, fully-calorized. (Is that even a word?) But if Santa ever starts saying anything other than ho, ho, ho, I’m lobbying for moo, moo, moo.
What about you? If ho, ho, ho were eradicated from the universe, what do you think Santa should say? Drop a comment here letting me know what you think about Santa’s belly and the kafluffle over ho, ho, ho to be in the running for this weekend’s giveaway prize–a primitive little cranberry grapevine wreath (that is so pretty, you’ll want to hang it up all the time, not just for the holidays). Drawing Monday!
:cowsleep:
(Writers–go see my latest post, What is a Blog Carnival, on Dandelion to find out how to enter the Carnival of Romance Writers!)
catslady says:
ohhhh I’m first lol. I live in the suburbs so don’t get to see too many farm animals but I did visit one last year and there was this goat that just had the most unbelieve bleat (or whatever they say) that had me laughing so hard I was crying. I had my daughter’s boyfriend record it on his phone but alas she no longer dates him so there goes my sure-fired good laugh. I think the “primitive” wreath is very pretty!! And I definitely say keep the HO HO HO.
On December 21, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Donna Mc says:
IMO, the only possible alternative to our beloved “ho, ho,ho” would be “Wahoo!” ‘Cause that’s what I say when things impress me, delight me, and otherwise make me want to say something other than wow. *G* So “Wahoo, Wahoo, Wahoo to You, Santa!….but now we sound like a demented owl, which would offend some tree-hugger somewhere. Sooooo, by default – lets keep HO HO HO! *G*
Great blog! (I like moo’ing to the cows, too. *G*)
Merry Christmas!
Donna Mc
GA
On December 21, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Fannie M Wiggins says:
This country is in serious trouble. :shocked: So many of our wonderful traditions and rights have been messed with just because a few people don’t agree with them. And NOW they want to mess with Santa. I protest. Santa is fine just the way he is. I certainly don’t want a skinny Santa yelling HA HA HA to my grandchildren. Santa is round and jolly and says HO HO HO. People should ask the children what they think. After all, Christmas IS for kids. Have a great day and HO HO HO to all. P.S. The wreath would look lovely on my door. 😆
On December 21, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Karen B says:
:talktothehand: Enough of this political correctness malarkey – it’s HO-HO-HO all the way! And I don’t want to hear the Jolly Green Giant saying HE-HE-HE either… I remember back in the 50s when my folks came back from a trip that my dad had taken pictures with his new Minolta – there had to be 80 pictures of cows – and nothing else! :cowsleep:
Love the wreath! :flying:
On December 21, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Adina says:
I think we should create a little island out in the Arctic ocean and call it “PC Island.” I nominate the Arctic because it’s a desolate, frozen, barren tundra like the PC’s hearts. They seem to enjoy sucking the joy outta life…but if I had a hammer pointed at my thumb and had to pick a new exclamation for Santa, I think I’d have him say “Jump! Jive! ‘NWail!” Heck, who wouldn’t get a kick out of a zoot-suit pappa Christmas??? I know it would bring a smile to my face! :shimmy:
MERRY CHRISTMAS Y’ALL!
On December 21, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Maxie says:
When did our children become so delicate that the jolly old fat man is a bad example and his ho, ho, ho-ing is too scary for them?
Other than the babies forced to sit on his lap when they’re too young, have you ever seen one single kid who didn’t love Santa?
On December 21, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Lily says:
That prize is so beautiful… totally would want to put it all year round!
Merry Christmas 🙂
On December 21, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Nathalie says:
HO HO HO… All the way! I think people are getting a bit crazy and phobic… and have weird minds too!
Merry Christmas
On December 21, 2007 at 2:12 pm
TeresaH says:
I can’t imagine a Santa that didn’t say HO HO HO! They need to quit messing with old traditions! I love cows too and have even been heard to moo a time or two myself. :cowsleep:
On December 21, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Tori Lennox says:
We need to send those Anti-ho-ho-ho Yahoos to Uranus. That’s the planet I’m shipping all the people who annoy me to. *g* And Santa DOES NOT need to be skinny!!!
I like cows. And horses. And goats. I don’t get quite so excited by pigs, though. *g*
On December 21, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Kim A. says:
I’m all for “ho ho ho” and jolliness and cookies made with real butter. We are becoming so politically correct that sometimes it’s ludicrous.
Beautiful wreath, please enter me in the drawing, if I may.
Have a lovely weekend, everyone. I hope no one needs to do last minute mall-crawling. *shudder*
-Kim
On December 21, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Laurie says:
In today’s world of political correctness, I am afraid we are creating people who will no longer speak to others for fear of saying something offensive. You can no longer hug someone without fear of being accused of sexual misconduct. What is happening here? If this is allowed to continue, we will be a nation of robots that have no compassion for anyone and will be very self centered. This is over the top with all this PC nonsense.
As for Santa, I say long live HO HO HO and to those that find it offensive or too frightening for their children, they should consider celebrating the Seinfeld-esque holiday of Festivus!! No Christmas tree, no Santa, and no gifts! They may re-think the whole HO HO HO issue and realize just how ridiculous they are all being!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, MAY THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH SOON!
:hug:
On December 21, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Staci says:
I say “good grief”. I’ve never heard of a child that was frightened by Santa saying “ho, ho, ho” – but if a child is, why don’t the parent(s) practice good parenting and console/explain to the child who Santa is and why he says “ho, ho, ho”!!! I think it’s just the same old “you’re violating my rights wahhhh”. Sick of it.
The wreath is great! Love it! Moo-cows are always loved here in Oklahoma!
On December 21, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Estella says:
People should leave Santa along—he is just fine as he is.
The wreath is great.
On December 21, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Crystal B. says:
I think that Santa is great just the way he is. I love his belly and how he says HO HO HO! When my nephew was small he referred to Santa as Ho Ho! Merry Christmas every one.
On December 21, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Susan says:
HO-HO-HO is the only thing I want Santa to say! :yes:
The wreath looks beautiful. :purr: Moo, moo, moo. 😆
On December 21, 2007 at 4:24 pm
LdeG says:
My kids are 23 and 20 and I still say “Look, cows!” when we see them… The kids make such cute noises when I say it 😆
On December 21, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Alice Audrey says:
I have no intention of giving up Ho Ho Ho, nor of taking up “she’s a ho.”
:cowsleep:
On December 21, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Laura says:
:woof: It’s sad that society is becoming what it is now a days. I think that Santa would not be Santa if he didn’t say “ho, ho, ho”. And a skinny Santa is definately scary and not nice and cuddly.
But if we had to choose something else to say I’d vote for
“Ariba, Ariba, Ariba” 😆
On December 21, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Dru says:
Santa would continue to say Ho Ho Ho and if people don’t like it, then so be it. They should also leave Santa’s jolliness alone.
On December 21, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Brandy says:
A Santa without saying “Ho, Ho, Ho” is just wrong! And a non tubby Santa is not accurate to The Night Before Christmas. This stuff has to stop.
Have a very Merry Christmas!
On December 21, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Peggy says:
Santa wouldn’t be Santa unless he said Ho, Ho, Ho! and Santa wouldn’t be Santa if he wasn’t chubby and jolly. We just can’t mess with tradition!
On December 21, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Dena says:
I heard about that too. I think it was from Australia. It’s so silly. I think that being PC has gone to far. I can’t imagine Santa without a belly except in that one cartoon and then Mrs. Claus fattens him up for christmas.
On December 21, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Jen says:
If the powers that be (note, what started as a squeaky minority is racing full steam ahead to become a loud majority)had their way, all forms of communication would become politically sanitized, for as you know, young minds are impressionable, and some people do not have the skills to cope when faced with alternate opinions. Sheesh… It’s called get a grip, and call things what they are. Stop messing with Santa, stop changing words in Christmas carols to reflect our ‘diverse’ culture (which is what we are to celebrate up north here in Canada, rather than trying to assimilate) and starting teaching people how to get along (and sometimes that works best in the School of Hard Knocks).
Anyway, just found your site and am quite enjoying it. Keep writing! Merry Christmas to everyone!
P.S. Cows are *wonderful* until one actually has to do anything with them (like chase them, doctor them, wean their calves, etc.). I can say this in all honesty, as I grew up having to handle them. Cows are best on a plate. :thumbsup:
On December 22, 2007 at 8:23 am
Susan Wilken says:
Keep the ho, ho, ho for goodness sakes—don’t you think the media is just out of control?? What ever happened to ‘just the facts’—I digress, sorry! That wreath is total goodness!
On December 22, 2007 at 8:26 am
Ro says:
Oh Man! Don’t mess with Santa Claus!! Just thinking of a skinny old man saying Ha Ha Ha to children skeeves me! Makes me think of awful things! No, Santa is a Jolly Fat Man who laughs the gentle Ho Ho Ho that makes us all warm and fuzzy inside. I also have a problem with the few people in this country that insist on making the majority change things to suit them! How dare they. Oh but that’s another topic to explore later. I hold with tradition. We Can’t change Santa.
Oh, and my husband and I Moo at the cows (with the windows rolled down) whenever we pass them! Then we laugh.
:cowsleep:
On December 22, 2007 at 9:05 am
mamie says:
When my kids and grandkids were little I told them if they would yell “Hi, Cow!” the cow would wave at them. Lo and behold, when you yell, they will give a flick of the tail aka “waving”! Of course, if you don’t yell they will also give a flick of the tail, but little people don’t realize that. Even now, I must, from time to time, yell “Hi, Cow!”
Santa just needs to continue with, “Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas!” and the poor sad creatures that want to pervert that need to clean their minds up. Let’s take back our language. Santa has been jolly and gay and saying Ho! Ho! Ho! for centuries. I refuse to ascribe trashy meanings to my vocabulary.
On December 22, 2007 at 9:34 am
Maureen says:
I think any woman offended by Ho Ho Ho! needs to re-evaluate her life. I like Santa jut the way he is. Merry Christmas!
On December 22, 2007 at 10:12 am
Dawn-Enigma Artist says:
Ho Ho Ho … First time here.
On December 22, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Dancing Shoes says:
Can only be HO HO HO!!! Let those who want to change things up come up with their own traditions and characters. Leave our Santa alone!!!!
On December 22, 2007 at 1:48 pm
chrissy says:
Skinny Santas are a little creepy.
On December 22, 2007 at 6:27 pm
hensteeth says:
I vote for the Jolly Old Elf following the Christmas traditions of wherever he’s visiting. We grew up with Santa saying both “Buon Natale” and “Ho-Ho-Ho.” Christmas magic is about the love, not the words.
Merry Christmas from Texas, and the best to you in the new year.
On December 22, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Magda says:
My husband proposes, “Yo ho ho and a glass of milk!”
On December 22, 2007 at 8:30 pm
RobynL says:
leave Santa the size he is and leave him saying what we all are used to; why do things have to change after a long time.
On December 22, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Pat Daigle says:
The jolly old fat guy without a few ho’s is like leaving the cookies out on Christmas Eve without a big ole glass of milk. It is just WRONG!!!!!! Leave Santa alone! And a skinny Santa is just not gonna happen cause there is no way he can resist those cookies and milk, hehe!
We do the cow thing too and my kids are 16 and 14. Has been a tradition for as long as they have been talking and it makes us all smile….
Love the wreath it is very pretty!
On December 22, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Alice says:
A new saying for skinny Santa? “Where has all the butter gone?”
On December 22, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Kelli C. says:
Can’t remember the name of the show now but remember the guy (was his name Duane?) who always walked in the door and said this?
On December 23, 2007 at 12:04 am
Kelli C. says:
Whoops, didn’t put my answer in the righ spot apparently.
Anyway, how about “Hey, Hey, Hey-hey!”
(from that show I can’t remember the name of)
On December 23, 2007 at 12:06 am
Kimmy L says:
I’m in agreement with you all. HO HO HO is all there is. It wouldn’t be Christmas without Santa saying those words.
Merry CHristmas everyone!!!!!!
On December 23, 2007 at 1:26 am
Candise says:
I don’t think it necessary to worry about the jolly old man’s weight. He is Santa! Perhaps we should begin to worry about children adopting his health habits after we notice adult men adopting his style of facial hair. Let him enjoy his buttery cookies and pleasant girth; and may he live happily for many more years!
As for the Ho Ho Ho…it should stay, but I do believe Moo is the next best thing. It was the first word, and remains a favorite of our 1 year old daughter. Who doesn’t love a cow?
On December 23, 2007 at 8:49 am
Claudia W. says:
I think that if Ho Ho Ho has to go, it should be Moo Moo Moo. But please let’s not let them take away Ho Ho Ho! I can’t believe all the stuff we grew up with is all that bad. And who are these people to say that this, that or the other thing is so bad for us or scary or dangerous??? I wish they would just stop and enjoy what we have now! I love that Jolly rotund man saying Ho Ho Ho with gusto!
On December 23, 2007 at 9:58 am
Lily says:
I always have liked the HOHOHO… I mean people now are becoming crazy! HOHOHO… an insult to women… not in the context of Father Christmas saying it!!!!!!!
On December 23, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Maguy says:
I don’t watch news, I was not aware of all the stir around such a trivial expression… and the belly!! Thanks for the information, though I think it is quite a somewhat stupid issue to fill some newspapers.
On December 23, 2007 at 1:38 pm
GiGi says:
I love the spirit of Santa and wouldn’t change a thing no matter who said what. but for the sake of your contest I would have Santa saying “lets go Mountaineers”. I’m from WV and I think even if none of your readers understand Santa sure would. First time to your blog, I really like it and will visit often. Merry Christmas, ho, ho, ho.
GiGi
On December 23, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Robin Brooke says:
What other time of the year can kids sit on a fat man’s lap and wish for anything their precious little hearts can dream of?
Oh, my! Even though my daughter is mighty scared of the man in red…she truly believes he will bring her the doll she is dreaming of!
HO HO HO, Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick!
On December 23, 2007 at 11:26 pm
Deb says:
Here in Southern Cal we still say HO HO HO……and I NEED that little wreath on my front door!!!!!!!
On December 24, 2007 at 12:29 am
MOMofFIVE says:
“If ho, ho, ho were eradicated from the universe, what do you think Santa should say?”
How about boo hoo hoo? How sad would it be that we, as a majority, would not stand up against the few loud-mouthed fruit cakes who wish nothing more than to destroy our great nation.
On December 24, 2007 at 3:07 am