I love love LOVE this story, so I thought I would share it with you! :0)
Is There a Santa Claus?
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?
- Virginia O'Hanlon, 115 West Ninety-fifth street.
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
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. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
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?
- Virginia O'Hanlon, 115 West Ninety-fifth street.
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
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. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Aren't these the sweetest little wreath taggies? They are hand crocheted by Jennie at So So Rosey!
From my family to yours, may you have the SWEETEST of Holidays!
Merry Christmas!
xxoo
Analise
Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed your blog. Thanks.
Posted by: EK | April 06, 2009 at 05:50 PM
What a beautiful story! It really got me teary-eyed and wondering about all the people who forget the magic inside of them... Even I do sometimes- I let myself get caught in "the real world" and forget about the beauty of it all... But then I'm lucky enough to fall upon such beautiful, heart-warming websites as yours and all the magic comes back in a second ;-)!!
Thank you for sharing your pretty life with us and making us dream away...
love,
T
Posted by: Teresa M. | January 09, 2009 at 07:27 PM
I ADORE your blog.. its super fun to look at! Your tree looks amazing... and so does that door above the fireplace.. OMGGooodness what a cute idea!!!!! Ill def be reading your blog!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 05, 2009 at 07:10 PM
Analise,
Your home and decorations plus the goodies are gorgeous. I hope you had a great day and wishing you a Happy New Year!
Kris
Posted by: Kristen | December 30, 2008 at 06:23 PM
Analise, hope you and your family had a beautiful Christmas, happy new year to you! Your decorations and wrappings are just STUNNING!!
xoxo Heather
Posted by: Heather~Pretty Petals | December 30, 2008 at 09:35 AM
Hello...so nice to meet you. I can see by looking over your blog that you are a lover of pink. You should stop by my blog for we have a pink contest going on right now. Hope to see you enter.
Posted by: Sondra Behne | December 30, 2008 at 06:55 AM
what beautiful gifts! hope you and your family had a fabulous Christmas!
Happiest of New Years to you! xo natalea
Posted by: NATALEA | December 29, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Hope your Christmas was Merry. Your gifts are beautiful! Happy New Year
Julie
piecefulbits
Posted by: Julie | December 27, 2008 at 07:12 PM
everything is so so so so wonderfully pretty! happiest holidays to you! xo
Posted by: Elyse | December 27, 2008 at 08:39 AM
I LOVE YOUR TREE!!
Posted by: Jan Thomason | December 26, 2008 at 08:34 PM
Analise! Oh my I think we have like minds! Now that I've stopped drooling over your holiday posts I can write! I ADore all your colors and the wrappings, OH MY!! I so will visit again! BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY HOME!!! Happiest of holiday greetings, Lori
Posted by: Lori | December 26, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Hey sweets,,
Merry Christmas.
oxoxo,
jessi
Posted by: jessi nagy | December 25, 2008 at 06:33 PM
Analise,
I have been looking for some pink polka dotted paper to use on a project. Where did you get this amazing deliciousness? Will you be selling it? I would love to buy some. Let me know.
xo Cathy
Posted by: Catherine Scalise | December 25, 2008 at 04:48 PM
May you enjoy a blessedly peaceful Christmas creating warm and wonderful memories.
Posted by: Laura Ingalls Gunn | December 25, 2008 at 03:18 PM
Merry Christmas to you and your family sweetie!! Enjoy the holiday!! xoxo Britt :-)
Posted by: britt- sparkledvintagecharm | December 25, 2008 at 02:29 AM
What a sweet world you live in - I love it. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Zita - Mlle Magpie | December 24, 2008 at 06:40 PM
Merry Christmas Analise and family!
Great photos as per usual--what a stunning, white tree! I love how everything is so *YOU* even down to the wrapping paper!
My wrapping paper is just your average Costco stuff--props to you!
*hugs*
~Sadie
Posted by: Sadie Lou | December 24, 2008 at 01:53 PM
What a tree, sweetpea!!! Beautiful. I have my humble tree on my blog today and you might get a kick outta the memories I'm sharing on it, chickee.......Your photos are truly exquisite! Of course, there's a Santa Claus! He lives in my heart......... ;-)
Smooches and Merry CHRISTmas,
Connie
Posted by: Connie | December 24, 2008 at 01:35 PM
LOVE THE STORY. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. WISHING YOU AND YOURS ONLY GOOD THINGS FOR THE NEW YEAR.
Posted by: SONIA | December 24, 2008 at 01:06 PM
Absolutely beautiful photos! Everything is gorgeous! Happy Holidays!!!
Posted by: jessica | December 24, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!! Hugs and Love
Posted by: Becky | December 24, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!! Hugs and Love
Posted by: Becky | December 24, 2008 at 11:51 AM