I Believe, Virginia

From the moment I first read the New York Sun editorial written in 1897 by Francis Church in response to an 8 year-old’s question about Santa Claus, I was in love. I was in love with the idea of Santa Claus and the idea of writing … and sharing that writing. I don’t even remember how old I was, but probably not yet a teenager.

That was a really long time ago, and I am still in awe of Church’s words.

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.

My daughter turns 8 next week. She has reached that age of question … is Santa Claus real? She has asked me a dozen times in the past few months. My mom cried the first time she heard it. I find myself answering Noodle’s question with Church’s sentiment, reminding her that Santa Claus means something different to different people, and that I … her mommy … will always believe in Santa.  

While I’m thankful Coca Cola brought us the image of a jolly old elf in a red suit that we know and love today, Santa Claus isn’t that “person” to me. The image represents more than the naughty or nice lists we threaten our kids with when they misbehave. 

To me, Santa is all that is good and honest about being a child … and being raised to be kind and understanding and generous, as Church so eloquently stated. Santa is part of many of our cultures and heritages in some fashion … not always in fur trimmed red with rosy cheeks … but he is there. 

We know him as Santa, St. Nicholas, St. Nick, Sinter Klaas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle … maybe even Odin.  There are yet other names in other cultures that I wrote about last year. 

Noodle knows Santa Claus as the man who lives at the North Pole, drives a sleigh with Rudolph, hops down our chimney on Christmas Eve, eats cookies and drinks milk, and leaves her presents. She’s never asked how he fits down the chimney or how he makes it around the world in one night. She has, however, asked why Milla Jo doesn’t ever bark at him! Priorities. 

We’re in that time of a child’s life where parents can dispel the myth and be upfront about the reality of the man in the red suit … or take a more holistic approach about why Santa is important to us, culturally and personally. I prefer the later … it’s less harsh and defeating. It’s also my truth and what I believe, which is, by any parent’s wish, what I want Noodle to believe … at least for now. 

While I certainly don’t discount the birth of Christ, Christmas has never been about that for me … or my husband. It’s always been about family and friends, being together with people we love. It’s about being appreciative of all we have, all we’re able to do, and all we’re able to give … and not just presents … but what we do throughout the year to help those around us when they need it.  

In all honesty, Christmas is a way of life … a way of living, of treating people, of being kind and just … and there I go again espousing Church’s sentiment. It has been 117 years since Church’s editorial was published and his words are just as powerful today as they were then. They changed the life of little Virginia O’Hanlon and they have touched the heart of countless people since. 

No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

 

I hope you have a blessed holiday season, and a Merry Christmas!