Black Santa

[badgeguy]

Newsman Francis Pharcellus Church wrote The Sun's response to Virginia.

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.

"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 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.

[Sen's Revenge]

I like gifts.

[AGDee]

I love finding that one special thing that someone doesn't need and doesn't know they want- but you know that they'll love it. It doesn't have to be expensive or fancy, but it is perfect for that individual. Of course, that requires really knowing who you're buying for...

What I could do without are the token gifts... every year my Godfather and Godmother send me a restaurant gift card of a certain value and I send them a restaurant gift card of a certain value. We should just stop. It isn't meaningful or thoughtful.

My brother though- he's the one I love shopping for. He has enough money to buy anything he wants or needs, but loves Detroit sports teams and U of M football and I love finding him unique gifts oriented toward those. Total whimsy. Stuff he can't get anywhere but Detroit.

I really have fun when I find something that I know one of my kids will love but haven't thought to ask for.

Token gifts, just for the sake of getting someone something out of obligation- not fun. Meaningful gifts that show you know the person and can anticipate their likes- lots of fun. The idea of Santa Claus is about the latter...

[DrPhil]

Gift buying is the same for every special occasion. Do it if you can afford it and out of love. Don't do it out of obligation.

I hate seeing people stressed out during the holiday. Most of these people are driving themselves crazy over an obligation to stand in long lines, exhaust themselves after they get off from work, and go into debt. The "spirit of gift giving", my ass. I love being relaxed during this holiday and shopping for myself only. When people at the stores ask whether I've finished holiday shopping, I tell them I'm only doing my normal shopping. No holiday shopping. If I want to give gifts, I don't have to wait until holidays to buy family and friends gifts.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I love finding that one special thing that someone doesn't need and doesn't know they want- but you know that they'll love it. It doesn't have to be expensive or fancy, but it is perfect for that individual. Of course, that requires really knowing who you're buying for...

But if I see this special thing (for my significant other, for example) in the middle of April, then I give it to him in April. There's still no obligation to find the perfect Christmas gift. We still give each other gifts, we're just not "forced" to do it on holidays.

Just this week, while shopping for myself online, I came across a shirt that I thought would be perfect for my cousin. I moved to TX, he lives in RI, and it's a shirt with an outline of the state of TX that says "Visit Rhode Island." I thought it was funny so I'll probably get it for him, but it's not a specific Christmas gift. He probably won't even get it until I visit in the spring.

To me, giving/receiving surprise gifts at random times is always more fun and meaningful.

[DrPhil]

LOL. Did some of us turn this into an Ebenezer Scrooge thread?

Our bad...back to Black Santa and Black Baby Jesus.

[AGDee]

If my daughter wasn't limited to Christmas and birthdays, she'd be a monster...lol.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by AGDee

If my daughter wasn't limited to Christmas and birthdays, she'd be a monster...lol.

Well kids are in a whole other league!