"Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus"

Every year millions of children question if Santa Claus does exist. Just like 8-year-old Virginia did in 1897. The response of "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus" became the most quoted editorial in world history. But, it became more than that. 

Young Virginia wrote her question in a letter to the editor of the New York Sun newspaper. At the time "if you see it in THE SUN, it is so" was a popular belief.  Editor Frank P. Church responded with the famous line. But, he wrote so much more in his eloquent editorial (www.newseum.org/exhibits/online/yes-virginia). 

"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." - See more at: Newseum (www.newseum.org/exhibits/online/yes-virginia/#sthash.jpxGOSIS.dpuf)  


Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus!" The world would be exceedingly dreary indeed. I think of the awe of seeing beautifully decorated houses as I drive down the street. I think of the anticipation as I see gaily wrapped packages under the Christmas tree. And I think of the laughter when I wake each morning to see a small pile of ornaments carefully guarded by my cat. 

Yes, Virginia, my Santa Claus exists in my own pleasure of the season. The Santa Claus of my world
may not be a physical person, but that matters not at all. My Santa brings awe, wonder and humor to my world. A better gift I could not imagine.

More than a century later, we can still look to Frank Church's editorial and agree. "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." 

 

 


Posted by: BuckHawk

About This Contributor

BuckHawk decribes herself as "Basically a lazy person who prefers the easy things in life." So that's what she writes about. Easy home decorating, easy recipes, easy entertaining. But, she is also a lover of animals, gardening and crafting. You'll find her writing all over the Web, but with Review This Reviews! she has the opportunity to write about all of her loves.