Ho Ho Hookah-Smoking Santa at Tobacco Shop Sparks Controversy

A Pennsylvania shop has sparked controversy after it put up a Santa figurine puffing on a Hookah as its window display.

It was an attempt at portraying Santa as jolly old Saint Nick by the owner of the store, Up in Smoke. The store is located at 41 Clinton Street.

According to the owner, what inspired her was the famous poem Twas the Night Before Christmas, which refers to Santa smoking a pipe, reports myfoxboston.com. The writing states, The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

The owner also said that there had been mixed reactions from customers regarding the statue of Santa. While some people are taking it in the right spirit, others do have a problem with the portrayal of the legendary figure in such a frivolous manner. But the shop owner states that the history is on her side and shrugs off any criticism.