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Yes Virginia There is a Santa Claus

A Look At Yes Virginia There Is A Santa Claus

The headline that was printed on September 21, 1897 with the original editorial was “Is There A Santa Claus?” In answer to this oft-repeated inquiry, editor Francis Pharcellus Church of The New York Sun wrote a resounding “Yes!” His reply of “yes virginia there is a santa claus” has been reprinted more than any other editorial in the English language. Revisiting yes Virginia There is a Santa Claus can evoke memories of a simpler era and offer challenges to a jaded public that views Christmas as a time for rampant consumerism. If we read the philosophy and poetry behind the article, will we also answer, “Yes Virginia There is a Santa Claus?”

A Look at Yes Virginia There is a Santa Claus in the original reveals that no 8-year-old child would fully understand Church’s answer. He is writing to Virginia’s parents, neighbors, and teachers; and to the world at large. He advocates for a new look at faith in the innocence and enduring qualities of childhood. He tells us that Santa Claus lives “as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist.” Instead of looking to the north pole for those qualities, we are asked to look within ourselves. We are kris kringle for the world’s children as well as our own, and we would do well to remember that. Keeping the true spirit of Christmas is what will keep santa claus alive in all our hearts.

The History of Yes Virginia There is a Santa Claus makes for interesting reading. Church was a former Civil War correspondent struggling with the disillusionment of that turbulent time. In this editorial he was able to reach out to other adults facing the same issue and provide a note of hope and consolation. He says that only faith and poetry can view the supernatural and that, “Ah, Virginia, there is nothing else real and abiding.”

Taking A Historical Look at Yes Virginia There is a Santa Claus shows that Church was no sentimental fool, nor were his readers. Some skepticism arose over whether an 8-year-old child would write the letter as it appeared in the Sun, but the original was later authenticated. Most likely, parental guidance entered into the writing. Be that as it may, the letter itself and the response seem to be heartfelt.

A Modern Look at Yes Virginia There is a Santa Claus includes Bruce Watson’s 2009 commentary in Daily Finance that says, “Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus…and NORAD Is Tracking Him!” For over 54 years, the North American Aerospace Defense Command has conducted a yearly Santa Watch. Children of all ages can appreciate the story of how this originated. In December 1955, Sears Roebuck published an advertisement that included “Santa’s direct number.” However, a printing error produced the wrong number, and a kid trying to reach Santa called Colonel Harry Shoup, director of the Continental Air Defense Command. Expecting an urgent call important for national security, Shoup was understandably irate. The child ended up in tears.

Cooler heads prevailed later, and the Santa Watch was born, with Shoup providing pint-sized fans with regular updates on the jolly elf’s travels. The following year, CONAD offered an official, non-secret phone number for this service. When CONAD became NORAD in 1958, the tradition continued. Even government agencies can be induced to give a nod to the questions of childhood.