<P> New Zealander, British, Australian, Irish, Canadian, and American children also leave a carrot for Santa's reindeer, and are told that if they are not good all year round that they will receive a lump of coal in their stockings, although the actual practice of giving coal is now considered archaic . Children following the Dutch custom for sinterklaas will "put out their shoe" (leave hay and a carrot for his horse in a shoe before going to bed, sometimes weeks before the sinterklaas avond). The next morning they will find the hay and carrot replaced by a gift; often, this is a marzipan figurine . Naughty children were once told that they would be left a roe (a bundle of sticks) instead of sweets, but this practice has been discontinued . </P> <P> Other Christmas Eve Santa Claus rituals in the United States include reading A Visit from St. Nicholas or other tale about Santa Claus, watching a Santa or Christmas - related animated program on television (such as the aforementioned Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town and similar specials, such as Rudolph the Red - Nosed Reindeer, among many others), and the singing of Santa Claus songs such as "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", "Here Comes Santa Claus", and "Up on the House Top". Last minute rituals for children before going to bed include aligning stockings at the mantelpiece or other place where Santa cannot fail to see them, peeking up the chimney (in homes with a fireplace), glancing out a window and scanning the heavens for Santa's sleigh, and (in homes without a fireplace) unlocking an exterior door so Santa can easily enter the house . Tags on gifts for children are sometimes signed by their parents "From Santa Claus" before the gifts are laid beneath the tree . </P> <P> Ho ho ho is the way that many languages write out how Santa Claus laughs . "Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!" It is the textual rendition of a particular type of deep - throated laugh or chuckle, most associated today with Santa Claus and Father Christmas . </P> <P> The laughter of Santa Claus has long been an important attribute by which the character is identified, but it also does not appear in many non-English - speaking countries . The traditional Christmas poem A Visit from St. Nicholas relates that Santa has: </P>

What does ho ho ho merry christmas mean