Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus.
~Francis Pharcellus Church, New York Sun, September 21, 1897
It’s been well over a century since an eight year old girl named Virginia wrote a letter to the New York Sun asking, “Is there a Santa Claus?”
The famous editorial response: “Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus” has become a beautiful and touching part of the fabric of American holiday traditions (with a little help from Macy’s).
It’s a timeless testament to faith, curiosity, and the honesty with which we all come into this world.
Of course, when the letter was originally written in 1897 the options for discovering the veracity of the tale of St. Nick were limited.
Today’s kids can very easily look to Google for guidance. Which, along with connecting a story of childhood wonder and innocence to a department store ad campaign, makes this blogger a little sick.
What have we done?
We can instantly connect to just about everybody on the planet and answer our own pressing questions (usually about what’s his name in that one movie) in a matter of seconds, but at what price?
Kids can text, track, e-mail, and Skype with Santa. The jolly old elf is plugged in and easy to reach with just the click of a mouse.
Where’s the magic?
How he manages to have time to get ready for Christmas (let alone circumnavigate the globe in one night) is beyond me.
Will technology kill Santa?
No. Santa is bigger than the Internet. He is magic, and nothing can or will ever change that.
As far as we may advance, there are some things that will always remain. For the true believers among us, the spirit of the season is untouchable, and no web page can dampen true spirit.
…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.
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“Is Tech Friend or Foe to Santa Claus?”: USA TODAY
…bi-daily smile…
