Thank God it’s Monday. I look forward to every Monday. They’re my 52 Chances a year, in which I get to share Memories of My Mom with you. Therefore, happy Monday.
“YES, VIRGINIA…” was the well-known response from The Sun, a famous former New York newspaper, in September 1897, to 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon’s simple query, as to whether or not Santa Claus really exists.
The awe-inspiring reply, written by Francis P. Church (Sept. 21, 1897), has been shared and reprinted every year since – more than any other editorial in the English language. It is, after all, the most profound answer to the simplest of childhood questions…
Dear Editor,
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say that there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in the Sun, it is so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon
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 our 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 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 that 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 supernatural beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else as real and abiding.
No Santa Claus? Thank God he lives and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, maybe 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the hearts of children.
Did you know that almost 40 years later “The New Yorker” magazine shared an interesting where-are-they-now style, follow-up story about Virginia, who became known as “The Santa Claus Girl” ? It was called The Santa Letter That Made An 8-Year-Old Girl A Celebrity, by James Thurber (December 12, 1936).
Virginia was real. Her letter to The Sun was real. The response from Francis P. Church was real. Supposedly, Virginia’s dad had told her that if she saw something in The Sun, it was true (or real). And, yes, I believe, as did Francis P. Church, that Santa Claus is real, even if only in spirit.
I learned a long time ago that Santa’s spirit is in all of us whenever we give selflessly from our hearts. That’s what Mom learned throughout her life. That’s what she taught me. That’s what I taught my own children. It’s also about having an “attitude of gratitude”, too.
Yes, Virginia… The legend of Santa Claus is real. It’s been around, in many forms, since about the 4th century. I taught my children, early on, about the original “St. Nicholas”, who was a Greek bishop in what is now known as Turkey. He was legendary for his generosity and secret gift-giving.
Even after he passed away, his spirit (who came to be known, many centuries later, as “Santa Claus”) lived on throughout time and the many generations since. Legends and folklore may have changed the story a bit but the essentials – his generosity and giving nature – remain as a steadfast foundation.
In our family, we value the importance of our personal gatherings over the tangible gifts, as well as the giving of the best of ourselves, without expectations of gratitude in return. That’s what the real “Santa” would’ve done. That may be, in part, why the “Secret Santa” gift-giving tradition is so popular, too.
It seems like every year, at this time, we hear on the news about the many wonderful stories of “Secret Santas”, who’ve paid-off peoples’ layaway-purchases or paid for someone else’s meal, while in line at a fast food drive-thru. Other stories tell of those at dine-in restaurants, having given their waiters/waitresses really big tips for the holidays.
Similar to Mom, I believe that it’s with this kind of selfless giving that we actually receive our own true gift – one that can’t be bought, let alone priced or valued. It’s the gift of LOVE – love for our fellow human beings. With that, there will ALWAYS be the spirit of Santa Claus.
FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…
As seen in…
Gloria Pitzer’s Secret Recipes Newsletter (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Issue 183, Nov-Dec 1997; p. 9)
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
WHENEVER WE FEEL we aren’t strong enough to handle some challenge, we can be sure that there’s, within each of us, a natural spirit, an inner strength upon which we can draw. Even when we feel nearly crushed by overwhelming challenges, we can prevail.
When loving others is involved and our being concerned for their welfare is uppermost, we can’t always stop doing whatever is necessary for us to do to overcome hard times. Our love for those in need won’t let us rest until their needs are met, their burdens eased.
It is tremendous to see what takes place when people act out of their concern for others, for the sake of goodness, an unselfish nature that promises no personal reward for efforts exercised. This, in deed, is the Spirit of Christmas.
In general, stories twist and change as they’re passed down through generations. According to Holiday Traditions of the United States…, the man in the red suit, now known as Santa Claus (aka: St. Nicholas or St. Nick), came from Scandinavia. His arrival down the chimney, to fill stockings with fruit and nuts, came from the Netherlands’ folklore.
Additionally, his sleigh and team of reindeer may have originated in Switzerland. The U.S. Americanized the reindeer team with the adaptation of “Rudolph”, leading the way in the dark, with his shiny nose. Even our annual holiday parades may have been inspired by the old Latin processions of celebration.
Over the years, America’s influence fattened up Scandinavia’s “jolly old St. Nick” and blended many other different traditions and folklore into the character we know, today – such as how he magically went down chimneys (even if there wasn’t one) on Christmas Eve to leave the good little children gifts and fill their stockings with treats and trinkets.
This certainly is a season for blended traditions. However, who hasn’t made new family traditions for coming generations to copy and embrace? Think about it. At some point, all of those old traditions were, once, new traditions that were so enjoyed they were, thus, passed on to future generations, who continue to share and enjoy them.
There was a story recently on my local news about a trending video of a teenager who couldn’t recall what she got for Christmas last year but she remembered all of their family vacations, showing that experiences are more impressionable and memorable than tangible “things”.
Years from now, the fun we enjoyed together is probably what we’ll remember most, when we bring up our memories of “Christmas Past”, is not what we gave or received, as gifts, but the personal experiences we had in the time we spent together.
I’ve noticed that many Christians who believe the “reason for the season” is the birth of Christ also teach their children to believe in Santa Claus – at least, throughout their single-digit years. To me, the selfless Santa-like giving is the “reason for the season”. Yes, Virginia… With that, he exists still today.
Furthermore, there are people (among both, Christians and non-Christians) who celebrate Christmas but not as a religious holiday. Instead, they focus on the traditions surrounding Santa Claus (aka: St. Nicholas), including “giving” from the heart. Is that so bad? Personally, I love all of the fun, Americanized characteristics of the holiday.
I am in that group of people who practice the “Santa Claus traditions”, rather than the religious traditions, as discussed in a very informative article, “Christians & Groups That Don’t Celebrate Christmas”, at TheOdysseyOnline.com.
“[THE CHRISTMAS FEELING] is basically a simple hope for peace and good will, no matter what other trappings we’ve attached to the occasion through the years since that single star lit up the sky over Bethlehem. No matter what other customs and traditions mankind has attached to Christmas or the celebration of it, the humble wish for ‘peace on Earth, good will towards men’ remains strong among those who thrive on hope and cherish what is good…” – Gloria Pitzer, Gloria Pitzer’s Secret Recipes Newsletter (Gloria Pitzer’s Secret Recipes, St. Clair, MI; Nov-Dec 1990, Issue #147, p. 8)
LAST THOUGHTS…
Whatever your reason for the season is… Mom often said, “Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me.” Rejoice in the people, not the things, around you – your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers, as well as the strangers you see – but don’t forget to rejoice in yourself, too. Peace, love and joy to all!
Thanks for visiting! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my memories of my mom, her memories, and other related things. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at therecipedetective@outlook.com. You can also find me on Facebook: @TheRecipeDetective.
IN CLOSING…
In honor of TODAY, being National Date Nut Bread Day, here’s Mom’s copycat recipe for “Soup Can Date Nut Bread”, like Sanders’; as seen in her self-published cookbook, The Original 200 Plus Secret Recipes© Book (Secret RecipesTM, Marysville, MI; June 1997, p. 39). As always, I’m asking only for proper credit if you care to re-share it.
P.S. Food-for-thought until next Monday…
The month of December observes… National Pear Month, National Write A Business Plan Month, Operation Santa Paws (which runs the 1st-24th), Root Vegetables and Exotic Fruits Month, Safe Toys and Gifts Month, Worldwide Food Service Safety Month, National Human Rights Month, Universal Human Rights Month, and more.
This week continues to celebrate… Operation Santa Paws (which runs through the 24th).
Today is also… National Forefathers Day, which is always on the 22nd, unless it falls on a Sunday, then it’s observed on the following Monday. Additionally, it’s… the last day Hanukkah/Chanukah (for 2025).
Tomorrow is… National Pfeffernusse Day, National Roots Day, and Festivus.
Wednesday, December 24th, is… National Eggnog Day and Christmas Eve. [Note: it’s also the 49th anniversary of Mom’s at-home interview with Jack McCarthy of WXYZ-TV, Channel 7 (Detroit), in 1976.]
Thursday, December 25th, is… National Pumpkin Pie Day and, of course, Christmas. Plus, it’s also the start of… the Twelve Days of Christmas (which is always December 25th through January 5th).
Friday, December 26th, is… National Candy Cane Day, National Thank-You Note Day, and Canadian Boxing Day. Plus, it’s also the start of… Kwanzaa [Week] (which is always December 26th through January 1st).
Saturday, December 27th, is… National Fruitcake Day.
Sunday, December 28th, is… National Chocolate Candy Day, National Card Playing Day, and Pledge of Allegiance Day.
Have a great week and a very merry Christmas!
…51 down and only 1 more to go.
