Nieman: Yes, Virginia, Santa exists for all those needing love and acceptance

The world’s most reprinted editorial appeared in the New York Sun in 1897.

A New Yorker, eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon, wrote a letter to the editor asking a very important question. She wrote, “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; is there a Santa?”

The editor wrote back promptly. His famous letter began with: “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. 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.”

A friend of mine, Israel Lachovsky, is a close contact of Santa. This past week, Israel made it possible for me to interview Santa. It was quite an honour to dial Israel’s number and get connected with Santa. My very first question was about his beard. Is it real? Santa assured me that indeed it is real. My friend told me that he has observed little children pull on Santa’s beard. Santa told him, “I am the Santa for everybody. All are welcome. I encourage little children to explore. So my beard has been pulled a few times. I don’t mind when that happens.”

I asked Santa to tell me more about the little ones who sat on his lap. He told me he had Christians, Muslims, Jewish and many other religions represented. All skin colours were welcome to cuddle and lean against his big chest, containing a heart overflowing with love.

Tears came to my eyes when Santa explained that at times adults with disabilities also want to sit on his lap. When they feel noticed and loved, they universally beam radiant smiles. Apparently, all just want to be heard and noticed. Santa made them feel special. And after all these years of working tirelessly in malls and private functions, Santa loves his job more than ever.

I was told he once had to get to work really early. The CBC in Calgary wanted him to be there at 6 a.m. Apparently, they needed some help to announce the numbers for their Christmas drive. When Santa’s turn came to make the final announcement, he used his trademark voice which boomed over the airways “Ho-Ho-Ho … it looks like this year we are breaking records. I am so glad people are helping those who need help!”

I wanted to know more about the wish lists he gets. He said some lists could fill a warehouse. But once his “socks got knocked off” by a kid who told him that he wanted to be a better giver.?One child even asked Santa what gifts he wanted. Unselfishly, Santa told the lad that together they can perhaps get a gift for someone else, rather than a gift for Santa. I was told there is a gift bank somewhere in our town, just for that reason.

I asked Santa if he ever gets sad requests. His voice became quiet. After a long pause, he answered. “Once in a while, a child will ask me, instead of a gift, if I could arrange for his divorced parents to get back together again.”

He told me he does not give advice or counsel kids. That is what psychologists are for. I could tell that Santa knows what it means to “Please run in your own lane.”

As one can imagine, there is lots of work to be done as families get ready for Christmas. Luckily I learned Santa has cousins. Apparently, a child asked Santa in a mall, “I just saw you at another mall. How is that possible?” Santa told the child that it was one of his cousins; this is called teamwork so that no child gets disappointed. Laziness is not tolerated!

I told Santa that the Dalai Lama said that generosity is a form of pleasant selfishness; that some give because of what they get back after being generous – a deep sense of love, compassion and heart-warming feelings. Santa could not agree more.

The New York Sun editorial, written on Sept. 21, 1897, ends with this: “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.”

Dr. Nieman, a community pediatrician since 1987, remains interested in the emotional intelligence and imagination of his younger patients. See www.drnieman.com for more information.