Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

Just an excerpt from Francis P. Church of the New York Sun, 1897

Dear Editor -
I am 8 years old. Some of my 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

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.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies.

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

You can read all about this on various sites, just type in Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

I hope it answers all the doubts felt by 8 and 9 year olds.