'Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus' published in the New York Sun

Background. The New York Sun, a prominent newspaper in 1897, received a letter from Virginia O'Hanlon, who asked if Santa Claus was real. Her father thought the newspaper would be "too busy" to respond to her question and told her to "write if you want to", but not to be disappointed if she got no response. Virginia wrote that her father had told her, "If you see it in The Sun it's so."

Publication. The Sun's editor-in-chief, Edward Page Mitchell, gave the letter to Francis Pharcellus Church. Church wrote a 416-word response, which was published anonymously on September 21, 1897. The editorial was titled "Is There a Santa Claus?" and included the text of O'Hanlon's letter. Church's authorship was not disclosed until after his death in 1906.

Reception. Virginia O'Hanlon learned of the editorial through a friend who called her father, describing it as "the most wonderful piece of writing I ever saw". She expressed great happiness upon reading Church's response. Although initially proud of her role, she later recognized the importance of Church's writing. The editorial drew no commentary from contemporary New York newspapers.