Is there really Santa Claus?, asked a little girl named Virginia O’ Hanlon. The New York Sun in 1897 responded “Yes Virginia There Is Santa Claus.” This repartee has become history’s most reprinted editorial and has been the subject of movies, books, posters, stamps, etc. Children around the world continue to ask this question, reason why I am reprinting here the letter of Virginia O’ Hanlon to the New York Sun and the newspaper’s answer which was penned by veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church.
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.
Here is the New York Sun’s reply written by Francis Pharcellus Church:
“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.”
Indeed, this is a timeless piece that tugs the heart of the child in all of us. I have talked to some friends about Santa Claus and here’s what they have to say.
Drew Arellano — What? Whoever said Santa’s not real? Don’t break my heart.
Mariel Rodriguez — Before I reached 10 (years old) I had the idea of who Santa is. My dad asked me where Santa could buy the baby face dolls I wanted for Christmas. That sort of give it away for me.
Dulce — We never knew about Santa Claus in our barrio Bulacao, Pardo, Cebu. I can only relate Christmas with the pastores, a big group who goes around bringing their harp and singing Visayan carols.
Bobby Garcia — I continue to believe in what Santa Claus stands for and of the need for him in our lives. As you grow older, your idea of Santa changes but hopefully not your belief in him.
Moy Ortiz — I stopped believing in Santa when I was five because I wondered why Santa gave me a toy easily available in COD, a defunct department store in Cubao.
Arnold Reyes — I tried to believe there was Santa when I saw him inside a mall. Ang alam ko taga North Pole siya so imposibleng siya ’yong nakita ko. My childhood image of Santa is not totally gone. I am inspired by St. Nicholas and his influence to the world. It means there is still goodness in the hearts of men.
Tintin Bersola – I believed in Santa Claus till I was about seven or eight years old. I guess when one grows old, and become more jaded, the painful truth will ultimately be revealed that Santa is just a man dressed in a costume or your dad. Hahaha! But now that I have a daughter, I’m back to my childhood again riding along with the thought that Santa is alive, if only for my child.
Bianca Gonzalez — I don’t remember exactly when I discovered Santa was actually my mom and dad. I think it was when I was around six or seven I left a note for Santa for him to draw himself and from the drawing style, I figured out, that it was my dad who drew it.
Gerald Madrid — In reality the existence of Santa is not real but in the eyes of every child, his existence is hope, love and a little something from Santa they have wished for which brings happiness to them during Christmas time. That’s the magical power of Santa Claus. So why should I stop believing?
There was a time when I started to doubt Santa Claus, but I never stopped hanging socks in any possible place I could. He did always arrive, only by the time I stopped pretending I was asleep.
Of course I believed Santa Claus more so today. Why? Because, I have seen him with my eyes, heart and soul. But I’m not telling you more, he might not bring me my Christmas present. Merry Christmas.