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Yes Virginia! There is A Santa Claus

December 2, 2011 By Elizabeth@ Pine Cones and Acorns 5 Comments

    Original Nast drawing of Santa via Wikipedia

    Ihave always been fascinated by the story of Virginia O’Hanlon the eight year old girl who writes a letter to The Sun newspaper, in 1897, to see if Santa Claus is real. I remember hearing the story as a young girl and being fascinated by the ingenuity of this little girl and of course the answer by this wise editor. I mean who wouldn’t BELIEVE in Santa Claus? I hope you enjoy her original letter and the answer by the editor of the Sun. 

    Dear Editor,

    I am eight 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 W. 95th Street

     

    Is there a Santa Claus?  

Virginia, your little friends are wrong.  They have been affected by the scepticism of a sceptical age.  They do not believe except 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 measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

 

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.  He exists as 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 Virgina’s.  There would be no child-like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.  We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight.  The eternal light with 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 you 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 men 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, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

SIDE NOTE: Macy’s is starting their 4th year of the, A Million Ways to Believe Campaign, of which this story is the premise. Each store has a believe meter and a mailbox for Santa, for every letter you write to Santa, $1.00 is donated to the Make A Wish Foundation. On Friday December 9, 2011 you can watch  Yes Virginia,  Animated Special with your kids or grand-children, or yourself! Just as I will be doing. Who doesn’t like a good Christmas movie to get you into the Spirit of Christmas.

By the way, Virginia , went on to earn an Bachelor’s, Masters and Doctorate in education and became an educator beginning in 1912 and retiring in 1959.

I hope that you are enjoying the magic and wonder of the holiday season so far! Have a fabulous day!!!


Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Christmas, Macy's, Macy's A Million Ways to Believe Campaign, Make a Wish Foundation. Santa Claus, Santa Claus, Virginia O'Hanlon, Yes Virginia There is a Santa Claus

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Privet and Holly says

    December 2, 2011 at 12:34 pm

    We had Miracle on 49th
    Street {the original} on in
    the background after dinner
    on Thanksgiving…..I, too,
    have always been fascinated
    by the story of Virginia! At
    our house, "You have to believe,
    to receive." Santa is everywhere,
    if you truly look. Sending
    you love and hugs…..

    xx Suzanne

    Reply
  2. YONKS says

    December 2, 2011 at 6:28 pm

    I love that story.
    Thanks for following my tour. We are back home now, just finished my last 24 hours blog post. I wonder if you recognise any of the places we visited?

    It was wonderful, thanks for coming along with me. I'm a bit knackered now as all that travel in just 6 days is a bit exhausting. Will spend the rest of this week catching up with bloggy pals!
    Hope you are well my dear friend.
    Di
    xoxo

    Reply
  3. Unknown says

    December 2, 2011 at 8:26 pm

    What a delightful story. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    Reply
  4. Palomasea says

    December 3, 2011 at 3:42 pm

    The Editor's response, dear Elizabeth, always brings tears to my eyes…
    Beautiful. Thank you for this! (and for typing it up!) ;))
    Blessings, dear friend..
    – Irina

    Reply
  5. Sunday Taylor says

    December 3, 2011 at 3:53 pm

    I love this story and I also get tears in my eyes each time I read it. Thanks so much for posting it!

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Elizabeth. I'm "mad for plaid", a good book, a cup of hot chocolate and my pups. Join me as I find the beauty in life and elevate the everyday.

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