Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!

In my family, and in the home in which I was raised, Santa was a vibrant part of the Christmas tradition.  In fact, this year, at 46 years old, I can honestly say that, busy as we all were Thanksgiving morning, I found myself stopping, almost breathless, at the end of the televised Macy's parade, waiting for Santa to make his appearance.  It's just part of my DNA.  I was truly happy to see him :-) So having confessed that, it should come as no surprise that at this time of year I often find myself sharing the story of Virginia O'Hanlon and her timeless question, "does Santa exist?"  It is a personal indulgence for me.  I love the writing, and the sentiment, of this American classic.  Whether Santa is or isn't part of your holiday tradition, I am nonetheless happy to share this story with you.  If nothing else, it makes me long for a time when people actually talked the way Church does in his response to O'Hanlon's letter - such elegance, such elan. Of course times are different now.  We have digital applications for almost anything and young, beautiful Virginia could have googled her answer in about 1/100th the time it took to compose her famous letter, but then we would have never known of Francis Church's elegant and graceful and inspiring reply to that innocent 8 year old from New York. It was in 1897 that Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun inquiring if there was indeed a Santa Claus. The quick, inspired, response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. History tells us it was the work of veteran newsman Francis Church and in the 113 years since it first appeared, it has 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.

"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. 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. *** I love that ending phrase - "...to make glad the heart of childhood."  Would that we all look within ourselves and find that simple motivation, the world would indeed be a better place. Today, this December 1st, as you plow your way through all of the hustle and bustle and the collateral worry and hopes of the season, I hope you find yourself warmed within and called to work hard at making glad the heart of childhood.  There can be no better calling among us to take these kids and dare them to be glad. Inspire them to be merry, indulge them in their childish capacities, love them without question and you might find you change the world. So thanks for stopping by my blog today and for your continued suppport. Merry Christmas! Dennis smalltowndad@hotmail.com