Ho! Ho! Ho!: From the Ridiculous to the Sublime, the Laughter and Cheer of Christmas! (2006) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Characters/People edit see section history

• Jacques: French friend of one of the Smith's sons who visits them over Christmas and makes himself useful. A good cook.
• Sarah Oliver: US Citizen who met her English husband while on a mission trip. Moves to England when he is denied a visa to the US in the aftermath of 9/11. Spends her first married Christmas in England.
• Jeanne Lorenz: Daughter of Patricia, student at Yale, trying to get home for Christmas.
• Canyon Steinzig: Boyfriend of Jeanne Lorenz; flying with her to her home for Christmas; a nurse
• The Caffreys: A family from Manhattan that Jeanne and Canyon meet at the airport. Invites the two of them home for the night.
• Barbie: Popular doll.
• Cheryl: Adopted daughter who wanted a purple Christmas stocking.
• Santa Claus: Christmas figure who comes down the chimney when children are asleep to leave them presents and fill stockings.
• Rudolph: Red Nosed Reindeer who leads Santa's sleigh team.
• Nicholas: Inherited a fortune from his family, but gave it all away--mostly to help children. Became a monk and the patron saint of Russia.
• Clement Clark Moore: Author of "The Night Before Christmas"
• Robin Martens: Author--opened her home to two Korean students at Christmas.
• Young Hock: One of the Koreans who came to study English at the University of Nebraska
• Lee Song: One of the Koreans who came to study English at the University of Nebraska.

Quotes edit see section history

• “'I have brushed my teeth' he explained in French, 'so I can smile my best to hitchike to Tijuana, Mexico.'”

  Jacques

• “Q: What happens if you eat the Christmas Decorations? A; You get tinsel-itus.”

• “According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeers drop their antlers at the beginning of winter. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring. According to every historical and artistic rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, they all have antlers. Therefore, every single one of them, from Rudolplh to Blitzen, had to be a female. We should've known. Only women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and never get lost.”

• “Love is, above all, the gift of oneself.”

  Jean Anouiln

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• France: Beverly Bush Smith's son was an exchange student in France and invited Jacques to visit them.
• England: Where Sarah Oliver met her husband while on a mission trip, she also spent her first married Christmas in England due to the tougher immigration laws after 9/11 that prevented her husband from getting a visa to the US for their wedding.
• Dayton: City in Ohio where the Gilroy family lived while Mark was growing up.
• Detroit: City in Michigan where Mark Gilroy's grandparents lived.
• Washington, D.C.: Nation's capitol--place where the Gilroy traditional Christmas moved.
• Vetville: Nickname for rows and rows of Army barracks, one of which was inhabited by the Clayton family.

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• pommes de terre gratin dauphinois: Similar to scalloped potatoes: thinly sliced potatoes baked with milk, butter, bacon bits and Le Gruyere cheese.
• stollen: Coffee cake
• cantankerous: uncooperative

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Christmas Humor: Entries attempt to cast a humorous light on some universal Christmas themes.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Mark Gilroy (Creator)
2. Jan Ledford (Contributor) - The Mystery of the Fruitcake
3. Georgia Richardson (Contributor) - The Spirit of Christmas Past

Other Contributors:

1. Beverly Bush Smith (Contributor) - Angel with an Accent
2. Sarah Oliver (Contributor) - The Christmas Tree
3. Patricia Lorenz (Contributor) - Christmas at the Airport
4. Linda Rondeau (Contributor) - Where Did Prince Charming Go? and The Perfect Gift
5. Nancy B. Gibbs (Contributor) - You Bet Your Boots
6. Bruce and Susan Karas (Contributor) - How to Give a Spectacular Christmas Gift
7. Jo Harring (Contributor) - Christmas Cookies
8. Darla Satterfield Davis (Contributor) - Scrambled Christmas
9. Karen Robbins (Contributor) - The Purple Stocking
10. Lanita Bradley Boyd (Contributor) - Santa Sighting
11. Jessica Inman (Contributor) - Who Says Traditions Have to Make Sense?
12. Paul M. Miller (Contributor) - On the Tradition of Sending Christmas Cards and How to Stay Awake at Midnight Mass, also adapted 'Twas the Bills After Christmas
13. Joan Clayton (Contributor) - My Newlywed Christmas
14. Diane Dean Whie (Contributor) - A White Christmas
15. Teena M. Stewart (Contributor) - Rudolph's Sad Demise and Room in the Inn
16. Kathleene S. Baker (Contributor) - My Very Own Santa and The Christmas Wreath Caper
17. Robin Martens (Contributor) - Sharing Christmas
18. Lydia E. Harris (Contributor) - The Fruitcake Caper
19. Marlene Depler (Contributor) - Green Tea and Chocolate
20. Glenn A. Hascall (Contributor) - The Elf and the Christmas Cowboy
21. Susie Warren (Contributor) - The Blizzard
22. David Michael Smith (Contributor) - Tootin' in the Pews

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 817

Notes for Parents edit see section history

The truth about Santa is revealed

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › World Literature › United States › Humor