At a time when the national discourse too often degenerates into name-calling and shouting, it seems appropriate to revisit one of the best refutations of skepticism and close-minded certitude. Written in 1897, the words of New York Sun editor Francis Church remain an enduring explanation of love, faith, poetry, romance and the Christmas spirit.
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 to the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole 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 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 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 they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign 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.
Very nice story.
Parents need to teach their children to respect others.
Too bad respect for others does not exist in this country, if one person is offended then everyone else has to stop what they are doing, what about the respect for those that want to call a Christmas Tree a A Christmas Tree, nope not today, its a holiday tree, we have lots of holidays, but can someone tell me what other holiday people put up trees and put presents under it, and then a guy in a red suit flying in a sleigh with reindeer puts presents under the same tree, That’s called Christmas not holiday.
How many times has someone specifically prohibited YOU from using the term “Christmas tree”?
Everyone should share this popular column with family and friends, especially children. Yes, everyone there is a Santa Claus!
Happy Holy Days! Note the primary definition of the word “holiday” in Merriam Webster:
Definition of HOLIDAY
1: holy day
2: a day on which one is exempt from work; specifically : a day marked by a general suspension of work in commemoration of an event
I believe………………Merry Christmas to all, and to all…………………..a good night……………..