Hi, My Name is Amy, and I'm a Virginia.

Are you a Virginia?

I'm proud to say that I have always been a Virginia.

Yes, I know that Santa isn't a real man that physically brings gifts to the children of the world, but he does bring a gift to those who believe in the magic of Christmas.

If you grew up believing in Santa, you might remember the excitement that Christmas would bring. The feeling of being on top of the world, knowing that the jolly old man, all dressed in red, was going to be in your home on Christmas eve, bringing you a mound of wonderful toys!

The feeling you got when you set out the milk and cookies, knowing that in the morning, there would only be a few crumbs on the plate. (And in my case, sometimes a half eaten cookie. "Santa's actual bite marks!" I would think to myself.☺)

When I found out that Santa wasn't real, My heart was broken. I believe it was the summer before 3rd grade. I felt as though a member of the family had died. But even after the heartache, I'm still glad my parent's told me there was a Santa. I dealt with the truth, but was able to hold on to the magic. I think that's why the ending of The Polar Express brings tears to my eyes.

"At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years past, it fell silent for all of them. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe."

And then there's that sweet letter that was written by a young Virginia O'Hanlon, and the editor that responded to her in such a gentle, loving way.

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 external 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 you 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 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, 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 lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Probably one of the most famous letters of all time.


Childlike faith. Think of what the world would be like if everyone had it.

So yes, I'm still a Virginia. Every Christmas eve night, I look up at the moon, just as I did every year since childhood, hoping to see Santa's magical sleigh flying through the night sky, knowing all the while that I won't see anything, but still believing in the magic of Christmas Eve.

"The bell still rings for me." 

I bet the bell still rings for him, too!!

(Submitted for Ketchup with Us, on December 18, 2013. If you aren't following the super fantastic gals, at "Ketchup", you're truly missing out! Click on the names, and FOLLOW THESE LOVELY LADIES! Michele and Mel )

'Ketchup With Us- Prompt #32'

Link up a holiday post, old or new.