REGIONAL
Macy's Media Call
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"Yes, Virginia" – and Macy's – Make History
One of the most iconic American holiday moments of
all time began in 1897 when the Sun newspaper in New
York City received a question from eight-year-old Virginia
O'Hanlon. The newspaper responded on September 21
with a poignantly worded and moving essay on the
spirit of believing, later revealed to be written by
Francis P. Church one of the newspaper's editors.
Under the heading "Is There a Santa Claus?" the Sun wrote, "We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of the Sun."
"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?"
The response has since become the most reprinted newspaper editorial of all time, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies and other editorials, and on posters and stamps, according to the Newseum, the national museum of news in Washington, D.C. Especially quoted is the editorial's second paragraph:
"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!"
After Church's death on April 11, 1906, the Sun broke its policy of editorial anonymity to announce that he had written the response. In later years, the Sun reprinted the editorial each December until the paper ceased publication in 1950. A new Sun dawned in New York in 2001 and published through September of this year. Most recently, on December 21, 2007 readers enjoyed the editorial again and it will surely live on in other publications in the century to come.
A radio interview with Virginia O'Hanlon Douglas, who grew up to become a principal in the New York school system, ran on Christmas Eve 1963. Then a grandmother, Mrs. Douglas read her celebrated letter and commented about the reply: "The older I grow, the more I realize what a perfect philosophy it is for life." You can listen to the interview at Radio Canada: http://archives.cbc.ca/society/celebrations/topics/412-2344/.
Mrs. Douglas died on May 13, 1971, at the age of 81. Until the time of her death, she answered the many letters people wrote to her about her famous letter – and in reply she included a copy of the legendary editorial. Just as the editorial in the Sun confirmed Virginia's belief, the simple step of writing to Santa reconnects us with the wonder of childhood.
This year, with Macy's Believe campaign, when children deposit their stamped letters addressed to Santa in the official R.H. Macy & Co. letterbox, it will help children to sense the real meaning of the holiday. They'll know that each of their letters represents another dollar for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® and another step in making wishes come true for seriously ill children.
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"Yes, Virginia" – and Macy's – Make History
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Under the heading "Is There a Santa Claus?" the Sun wrote, "We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of the Sun."
"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?"
The response has since become the most reprinted newspaper editorial of all time, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies and other editorials, and on posters and stamps, according to the Newseum, the national museum of news in Washington, D.C. Especially quoted is the editorial's second paragraph:
"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!"
After Church's death on April 11, 1906, the Sun broke its policy of editorial anonymity to announce that he had written the response. In later years, the Sun reprinted the editorial each December until the paper ceased publication in 1950. A new Sun dawned in New York in 2001 and published through September of this year. Most recently, on December 21, 2007 readers enjoyed the editorial again and it will surely live on in other publications in the century to come.
A radio interview with Virginia O'Hanlon Douglas, who grew up to become a principal in the New York school system, ran on Christmas Eve 1963. Then a grandmother, Mrs. Douglas read her celebrated letter and commented about the reply: "The older I grow, the more I realize what a perfect philosophy it is for life." You can listen to the interview at Radio Canada: http://archives.cbc.ca/society/celebrations/topics/412-2344/.
Mrs. Douglas died on May 13, 1971, at the age of 81. Until the time of her death, she answered the many letters people wrote to her about her famous letter – and in reply she included a copy of the legendary editorial. Just as the editorial in the Sun confirmed Virginia's belief, the simple step of writing to Santa reconnects us with the wonder of childhood.
This year, with Macy's Believe campaign, when children deposit their stamped letters addressed to Santa in the official R.H. Macy & Co. letterbox, it will help children to sense the real meaning of the holiday. They'll know that each of their letters represents another dollar for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® and another step in making wishes come true for seriously ill children.