Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

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Many phrases define a season or experience. Among our favorites are:

“Play ball!”

“Missed it by that much!”

“Get that sled out of the driveway!”

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On everyone’s list is that wacky friend who prefaces every feat of daring with “Watch this!” That one is usually followed by sirens heralding the arrival of EMS staff. But since 1897 our title phrase has signified the holiday season.

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Although considered a single event, the Christmas experience is a combination of traditions from many countries and continents. Believe it or not, the early Puritan settlers made it illegal to exchange gifts, light a candle, or use the name St. Nicholas. My, how times have changed. Before Coca-Cola popularized Santa, he originated as a Dutch figure named Sinterklass. Montgomery Ward is responsible for the popularization of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Latvia claims the distinction of the first lighted Christmas tree in 1510, as well as the first Christmas tree fire. Mexico is the origin of Poinsettias, or “Flor de la Noche Buena," (the Flower of the Holy Night). Ancient Rome is considered the origin of gift-giving, during the feast of Kalends. And 13^th century Italy is the first recorded Nativity Scene, other than the original.

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As we go around observing our current traditions, pause a moment to reflect and enjoy. What, you ask? Family and friends top many lists, but we’re sure you have a more personal list in mind. What better time of year to celebrate the things most important to us?

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For those literary fans we’ve included a short history of the exchange between child and editor that started this discussion. Following that is their actual letters, preserved for all eternity, as is the case with everything on the internet. As you read them take time to reflect on your views and experiences of the season. We think you’ll be glad you did.

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Merry Christmas!


Robert Ferguson, President

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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.

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"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 measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

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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.

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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.

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You may 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.

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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.

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