Today, Christmas Eve, we continue our tradition of republishing a 19th century New York editorial writer’s passionate defense of Santa Claus.

Syracuse NY

Syracuse

Onondaga County

New York

United States

‘Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus’ (Editorial Board Opinion)

On Sept. 21, 1897, The New York Sun published what was to become the most widely read letter to a newspaper. It was sent by 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon, who lived with her parents in Manhattan. Below is the full text of that letter and the reply by Sun editorial writer 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 …

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NY Daily News

Alden Global Capital

Yes, Virginia: There is a Santa Claus

At a time when many Americans are on edge, it seems appropriate to revisit one of the best arguments for faith and hope, and against skepticism and close-minded certitude. Written in 1897, the words of New York Sun editor Francis Church remain an enduring explanation of love, poetry, belief, romance and the Christmas spirit. 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…

Boston Herald

Boston

Suffolk County

Massachusetts

Editorial: Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

Real Clear Politics

Chicago

Cook County

Illinois

'Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus'

News & Record

Lee Enterprises

Cherokee County

Georgia

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

Editor’s note: In 1897, Virginia O’Hanlon, age 8, of Manhattan, wrote to the New York Sun with a simple question: “Is there a Santa Claus?” Editorial writer Francis Pharcellus Church wrote the paper’s response, which was published on Sept. 21,…

New Hampshire Union Leader

New Hampshire

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

At a time when many Americans are on edge, it seems appropriate to revisit one of the best arguments for faith and hope, and against skepticism and close-minded certitude. Written in 1897, the words of New York Sun editor Francis Church remain an enduring explanation of love, poetry, belief, romance and the Christmas spirit. Church wrote thousands of editorials for The New York Sun. He is known for just one: an unsigned response to a letter from…

Daily Camera

Boulder

Boulder County

Colorado

Editorial: How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus

Santa’s existence was proved conclusively in 1897 by Francis P. Church, of The New York Sun. His editorial is reprinted here as a public service:

Nola

New Orleans

Orleans Parish

Louisiana

Editorial: Yes, Virginia, there is always a Santa Claus

One of this nation’s most enduring Christmas tales is the reply by Francis P. Church, editorial writer for the New York Sun, to a letter from little Virginia O’Hanlon of Manhattan, asking if there was a Santa Claus. The famed response first appeared in the Sun on Sept. 21, 1897. Virginia grew up, married and became a teacher in the Chatham school district in Columbia County. She died in Chatham at age 81 on May 13, 1971. Her letter, Church’s rep…

Daily Freeman

Kingston

Ulster County

‘Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus’

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following editorial, among the most famous ever written, appeared in The New York Sun in 1897 and remains appropriate for this holiday season 127 years later. In keeping with tradition, we are happy to be publishing it again, per our Christmas Eve tradition. IS THERE A SANTA CLAUS? We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its fa…

‘Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus’ (Editorial Board Opinion)

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