Free
Readers Ensemble
Wm. B. Sullivan Realty & Co.
Estate Planning and General Law
RAVINIA
"A Great time in a
Wonderful Place" SJC
"Highly recommended.."
Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc
Adopt a Pet, Come for a Visit
CAGIS Archaeological
Consulting Services
Wm. B. Sullivan Realty & Co.
Estate Planning and General Law
RAVINIA
"A Great time in a
Wonderful Place" SJC
"Highly recommended.."
Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc
Adopt a Pet, Come for a Visit
CAGIS Archaeological
Consulting Services
MACY's
Christmas Windows 2010
Christmas Windows 2010
"Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus"
The
43rd annual animated holiday windows depict the story of the 1897 New
York Sun "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" editorial inspired by
little Virginia O'Hanlon's letter to the editor. The holiday spirit
continues inside the famous State Street store as visitors make their
way to the illustrious Walnut Room to see Macy's Great Tree. The
historic Great Tree, featuring 10,000 LED sparkling lights and 1,200
ornaments, stands 45-feet tall and has been a centerpiece of the
holiday dining tradition for more than a century.
At the very top of her house in New York
City, eight-year-old Virginia and her pal Ollie delite in a magical
book about Santa Claus. "What's that?" asks Ollie pointing to the large red sack Santa is
carrying on his back. Virginia answers with certainty, "It's his bag of
toys, you know, for kids all over the world."
Virginia and her friends together in a nearby courtyard. They admire her book, happily recalling what Santa brought them last Christmas.
"Grow up." snares Charlotte, an older girl with a worldly air.
"That's baby stuff you can't prove he's real. Face it, Virginia
there's no Santa."
The children's belief dwindles at these harsh words, but Virginia has a plan in mind.
To the library the friends go for proof that Santa exists. The kindly librarian gathers book after book from all over the world. "In England. he's called Father Christmas," the librarian explains. "In Holland, he's Cinter Klas." explains Virginia.
Whether named Bellsnickle, Kris Kringle, or Chimney John, Santa is beloved the world over. And yet... still no proof Poor Virginia. "None of this tells me Santa is real."
"But," asks the librarian, "if he doesn't exist, why do children everywhere believe in him?" Why indeed?
Maybe Papa knows. "Let's examine the facts," he says. "Someone brought you a present last year. And ate the milk and cookies you left out. Therefore."
Virginia doesn't fall for Papa's logic. But the newspaper on his desk reminds her of his oft-repeated words: "If it's in the SUN it's so."
That's when she writes to the editor asking for the truth: "Is there a Santa Claus?" Then she waits... and waits for a response. Worried Virginia's mothers says gently believing in Santa Claus isn't something you prove. It's something you do when you're kind to others, that's all the proof you need.
Virginia wonders could that be true?
In his office at the SUN, the editor contemplates Virginia's letter. "Dear editor I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, 'If you see you in the SUN it's so.' Please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus?
How to respond?
How to give hope and inspiration to a little girl, a city...and the world?
At last the editor takes pen in hand and composes the reply that has become nearly as famous as Santa himself.
Still pondering, Virginia encounters a scraggly, shivering, "Santa" on the street corner collecting coins for charity the poor soul had given away his coat to someone in need! Her mother's words about being kind to others echo in her mind: "That is what makes Santa real, dear."
Virginia returns with a big beribboned box. " I broke open my piggy bank and got this for you!" " I can't accept this," the man gasps admiring the beautiful new red overcoat longingly. "Yes you can she insists. Merry Christmas!" Deeply touched he declares, Today YOU'RE Santa Claus."
Finally the proof is printed in black and white, to be read all over!
"Yes, Virginia" proclaims the SUN. "There is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love, generosity and devotion exist. A thousand years from now, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."
All is well and joyous to the world, and belief reaches higher and deeper and wider than ever before! But wait who is that portly, bearded gent in red, with a twinkle in his eye? Can it be?
Yes. Virginia...
All photos above are from the Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
All writing is from the Macy store windows in Chicago 2010.
A wonderful story still being told in many ways each year to many in the world.
Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa ClausVirginia and her friends together in a nearby courtyard. They admire her book, happily recalling what Santa brought them last Christmas.
"He brought me a train set!"
"He brought me a dollhouse!"
"I got a bow and arrow!"
"He brought me a dollhouse!"
"I got a bow and arrow!"
"Grow up." snares Charlotte, an older girl with a worldly air.
"That's baby stuff you can't prove he's real. Face it, Virginia
there's no Santa."
The children's belief dwindles at these harsh words, but Virginia has a plan in mind.
To the library the friends go for proof that Santa exists. The kindly librarian gathers book after book from all over the world. "In England. he's called Father Christmas," the librarian explains. "In Holland, he's Cinter Klas." explains Virginia.
Whether named Bellsnickle, Kris Kringle, or Chimney John, Santa is beloved the world over. And yet... still no proof Poor Virginia. "None of this tells me Santa is real."
"But," asks the librarian, "if he doesn't exist, why do children everywhere believe in him?" Why indeed?
Maybe Papa knows. "Let's examine the facts," he says. "Someone brought you a present last year. And ate the milk and cookies you left out. Therefore."
Virginia doesn't fall for Papa's logic. But the newspaper on his desk reminds her of his oft-repeated words: "If it's in the SUN it's so."
That's when she writes to the editor asking for the truth: "Is there a Santa Claus?" Then she waits... and waits for a response. Worried Virginia's mothers says gently believing in Santa Claus isn't something you prove. It's something you do when you're kind to others, that's all the proof you need.
Virginia wonders could that be true?
In his office at the SUN, the editor contemplates Virginia's letter. "Dear editor I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, 'If you see you in the SUN it's so.' Please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia Hanlon
115 W. 95th Street
115 W. 95th Street
How to respond?
How to give hope and inspiration to a little girl, a city...and the world?
At last the editor takes pen in hand and composes the reply that has become nearly as famous as Santa himself.
Still pondering, Virginia encounters a scraggly, shivering, "Santa" on the street corner collecting coins for charity the poor soul had given away his coat to someone in need! Her mother's words about being kind to others echo in her mind: "That is what makes Santa real, dear."
Virginia returns with a big beribboned box. " I broke open my piggy bank and got this for you!" " I can't accept this," the man gasps admiring the beautiful new red overcoat longingly. "Yes you can she insists. Merry Christmas!" Deeply touched he declares, Today YOU'RE Santa Claus."
Finally the proof is printed in black and white, to be read all over!
"Yes, Virginia" proclaims the SUN. "There is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love, generosity and devotion exist. A thousand years from now, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."
All is well and joyous to the world, and belief reaches higher and deeper and wider than ever before! But wait who is that portly, bearded gent in red, with a twinkle in his eye? Can it be?
Yes. Virginia...
All photos above are from the Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
All writing is from the Macy store windows in Chicago 2010.
A wonderful story still being told in many ways each year to many in the world.
"Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon
wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response
was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of
veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's
most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in
dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on
posters and stamps."
Below are the Words of the
Original
Letter sent the Paper,
Letter sent the Paper,
"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.
"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 he 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.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago
published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.