Virginia
‘Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus’ (Editorial Board Opinion)
Today, Christmas Eve, we continue our tradition of republishing a 19th century New York editorial writer’s passionate defense of Santa Claus.
The journalist Francis P. Church, a native of Rochester, wrote thousands of editorials for The New York Sun. He is known for just one: an unsigned response to a letter from an 8-year-old girl being teased by her friends for believing in the Jolly Old Elf.
Now as then, Church’s reply to little Virginia O’Hanlon invites us to open our hearts to the mystery, wonder and joy of the season. You can’t help but smile to read:
“Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias.”
We wish you and yours a Merry Christmas.
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 W. Ninety Fifth St.
Virginia,
Your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except 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 external 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 you 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 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, 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 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
“Is There a Santa Claus?” reprinted from the Sept. 21, 1897, edition of The New York Sun.
About Syracuse.com editorials
Editorials represent the collective opinion of the Advance Media New York editorial board. Our opinions are independent of news coverage. Read our mission statement. Members of the editorial board are Tim Kennedy, Trish LaMonte and Marie Morelli.
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If you have questions about the Opinions & Editorials section, contact Marie Morelli, editorial/opinion lead, at mmorelli@syracuse.com
Virginia
West Virginia commit announces decision by blasting ‘Country Roads,’ lighting a couch on fire
A big moment in any student-athlete’s career is announcing what school they’re committing to, and I don’t think you’re going to find an announcement better than one we’ve got coming from one of the newest West Virginia Mountaineers.
What’s that smell? It… it smells like a couch burning to the sounds of the Mountaineers’ beloved John Denver “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
You bet your sweet a– that’s what it is.
There’s a growing chance that any recruit who lights a couch on fire is going to end up wearing one of these. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Ethan Lawson is a 6’6″, 300-lb offensive lineman and part of the 2027 recruiting class.
THE 2007 MOUNTAINEERS REMAIN COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S GREATEST ‘WHAT-IF’ STORY NEARLY TWO DECADES LATER
According to Sport Illustrated he has fielded offers from a bunch of programs including Appalachian State, Liberty, Air Force, Army, Navy, Duke, Wake Forest, UConn and more.
But, they all missed out because Lawson posted his decision on X, and well… I think he was always West Virginia material.
Bobcat Goldthwait was burning couches on camera before it was cool.
But, alright, there’s no doubt about it: someone is about to sell some jerseys.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
And if there’s not a furniture store in Morgantown that brings in Lawson and fellow offensive line recruit Kevin Brown (who also lit a couch on fire because that’s becoming a thing) for an ad, then… then, well, I don’t know what, but it would be quite the missed opportunity.
It’s early, but Rich Rodriguez’s West Virginia Mountaineers lead college football in recruits burning couches. (Ben Queen-Imagn Images)
Hey, like it or not, sometimes in the age of NIL it can be a popularity contest. If fans like you, it could mean greater visibility and more lucrative deals. Perhaps that was the mission here, and we all know it worked.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
I refuse to believe any Mountaineers fans saw that video, heard the song and then didn’t reflexively raise a beer (even if they didn’t realize they were drinking one and say, “Hell yeah, brother.”)
We’ll see if the sort of thing translates onto the field, but even if it doesn’t, I feel like there’s money to be made making appearances and lighting furniture on fire at frat parties.
BRISTOL, Va. (WCYB) — Crews put out a house fire in Bristol, Virginia, on Wednesday morning, according to officials.
The Bristol, Virginia Fire Department was dispatched at 3:09 a.m. for the fire in the 900 block of Vermont Avenue. The house was unoccupied at the time fire crews arrived on the scene.
Firefighters encountered heavy smoke and flames in the front of the house. They were able to quickly extinguish the fire under challenging conditions. The fire scene remains active and an investigation is underway. No injuries have been reported.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Virginia Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 2, 2026, results for each game:
Mega Millions
Mega Millions drawings take place every week on Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.
15-26-43-48-60, Mega Ball: 12
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 4-5-7, FB: 9
Day: 8-7-6, FB: 5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 7-0-6-5, FB: 8
Day: 1-1-9-0, FB: 1
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 5
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 2-9-1-0-4, FB: 0
Day: 5-9-4-1-7, FB: 0
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Cash Pop
Drawing times: Coffee Break 9 a.m.; Lunch Break 12 p.m.; Rush Hour 5 p.m.; Prime Time 9 p.m.; After Hours 11:59 p.m.
Coffee Break: 10
After Hours: 14
Prime Time: 04
Rush Hour: 13
Lunch Break: 06
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
Drawing everyday at 11:15 p.m.
16-33-41-50-52, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Center for Community Journalism (CCJ) editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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Los Angeles, Ca49 minutes agoMan claiming to be armed robs Culver City bank, gets away with $10,000
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Detroit, MI1 hour agoFired Detroit TV anchor Taryn Asher files sex discrimination lawsuit against old station, claims new GM protected men
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San Francisco, CA1 hour agoSan Francisco family devastated as they face nearly 90% rent increase
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Dallas, TX1 hour agoWings’ top pick Azzi Fudd hosts clinic as Cash App donates to Dallas nonprofit
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Miami, FL2 hours agoPatients left scrambling for care after Miami-Dade woman accused of operating an unlicensed surgery recovery center
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Boston, MA2 hours agoClover plans to reopen some locations after sudden closure, thanks to an anonymous investor
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Denver, CO2 hours agoNew report finds Denver metro home buyers and sellers experiencing ‘unattainability fatigue’
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Seattle, WA2 hours agoSeattle mayor grilled over public safety, affordability, CCTV
