Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Young Miss O'Hanlon's Question Led to a Famous American Editorial
Many parents face the moment when children ask if Santa Claus is real, and in 1897, Virginia O'Hanlon's father instructed her to write to the New York Sun, telling her, "If you see it in the Sun, it must be true." For the rest of her life, Miss O'Hanlon would receive questions about her short letter to the Sun, and she usually wrote back, enclosing a copy of the historic letter, and the response she received.
The Text of the Virginia's Letter to the Editor
In September, 1897, this letter was sent to the New York Sun, and the Sun happily published it, saying they felt "great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun".
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
The Text of The New York Sun's Response
Although the response to Virginia's letter is well-known, few people knew who the responding editor was, as the newspaper published the response as an unsigned editorial. However, it was later revealed that the writer was 58-year-old editor Francis P. Church, a former war correspondent who worked at the Sun. His famous line appears in the second paragraph, but the entire text is part of American newspaper history.
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 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 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.
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.
Mr. Church's response became a significant because of its sentimental content and because of his style. The editorial tactfully blended a strong sense of hope and a chastisement of skepticism. His editorial is also remarkable for being able to reach a variety of audiences; Miss Virginia read one response assuring her that Santa exists, and adults read a response reminding them to keep Santa in existence.
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