Is there a Santa Claus?

New York Sun ^ | September 12, 1897 | Francis Pharcellus Church

[ZULU]

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. "Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' "Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON. "115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measure by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest man that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank GOD! He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

[HungarianGypsy]

Santa Claus lives in my house. I enjoy New Years more because I rarely get to see him during the Christmas season.

[xowboy]

As a matter of fact, I write Santa a letter every Christmas Eve-have for years. It kind of puts the year past and future in some perspective for me.

[Steel Wolf]

Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'

Papa's a Democrat, I take it?

[weegee]

The original letter has been passed down through their family and was appraised (but not for sale) on Antiques Roadshow.

[Pest]

I watched Antiques Roadshow awhile back and there was this guy on there. His grandmother was the actual Virgina who wrote that letter. He had pictures and other info to back it up.

Pretty cool.

[Pest]

Beat me by 53 seconds!

[SteveMcKing]

So in a spirited, imaginary, philosophical kind of way, there is a Santa Clause.

But to be more plain and honest about it -- no.

[Tinman]

Thanks and Merry Christmas!

[rit]

I remember as a kid my father answering the question by saying "Some might not believe, but as long as there is a bit of Santa in each and everyone of us, the world is a better place." I never really appreciated that answer until I was much older.

[jdm]

"Is there a Santa Claus?"

"Better think so, otherwise you be in a ho lot o' trouble come Christmas morning, boys and girls"

[Thrusher]

That depends on what your definition of "is" is.

[ZULU]

Sam Elliot inspired me last night on "Prancer"

Sam Elliot is class. He MUST be a Republican!!!

[Pest]

If the--if he--if 'is' means is and never has been, that is not--that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement....

[USS Alaska]

So in a spirited, imaginary, philosophical kind of way, there is a Santa Clause.

But to be more plain and honest about it -- no.

[cinives]

As I tell the kids "If you don't believe, you don't receive." That usually clears up the matter. :)

[sourcery]

There's usually at least one Santa Clause in every household (well, at least in Western countries, anyway.)

[GrandEagle]

OK, I guess I'm the old fluddy duddy here but I've never told my children that there is a Santa Clause.
I tell them that he is a made up tale but that we have a lot of fun with it.
They get stuff from Santa every Christmas, but they all know that he is not real.
I have never intentionally lied to my children.

And no, we don't do the Easter Bunny either.

[ßuddaßudd]

The question is,, Do you believe?

[i_dont_chat]

I don't have children. I've helped with step-children.

ANd I am fascinated with your approach of not lying to your children. I've often thought of how confusing it is to the children. Our society (and parents) tell children there is a Santa, a tooth fairy, etc. etc., and the children believe it -- until they find out that it is isn't true.

Then we tell teenagers that smoking tobacco and pot is bad for them. And they see adults smoking with impunity, and we wonder why they don't take our "word" for it, how harmful smoking really is. Instead, they try it for themselves and get hooked, because they have learned that we don't always tell the truth.

Interesting.