# No , VIRGINIA, there is no Santa Claus
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [December 2, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846 "2011-12-02T15:41:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@willthekittensurvive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willthekittensurvive)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/1 "2011-12-02T15:41:57Z")
in the spirit of [Only 24 days left in the War on Christmas!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=633358)
> [@](#):
>
> "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.”
I say we give Virginia the straight dope
no room for silly superstition our modern world
how would you reply?
be blunt if you must, kind if you want to
---
### Author:  [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/2 "2011-12-02T16:41:30Z")
Well, our very own Cecil Adams had a masterful treatise on this very topic on 12/26/1997 where he concludes that “Santa Claus’ existence _ **cannot** _ be definitely ruled out.”
good enough for me
> **[Is there a Santa Claus?](https://www.straightdope.com/21342522/is-there-a-santa-claus)**
---
### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/3 "2011-12-02T16:45:46Z")
Ah.
Another person signing up for the War On Fun.
😛
---
### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/4 "2011-12-02T16:58:12Z")
Today, of course, the question woulfd be posted on the internet, and we would coclude, as usual, that “Virginia” was really a fat, balding, fifty-something year old guy masquerading as a girl.
Sorry, Santa, there is no Virginia.
---
### Author:  [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/5 "2011-12-02T17:58:35Z")
“Humbug! Humbug!”
“humbug, Mr. Baldrick?”
---
### Author:  [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/6 "2011-12-02T18:24:38Z")
Ms Viginia O’Hanlon
It has come to our attention that you are expressing interest in the individual known as Claus, Santa. This individual is presently being held in a secure facility after violating US borders, and under enhanced interrogation has admitted to Al Qaeda ties, as well as the intent to leave incendiary material in the homes he deemed “naughty”. What is your interest in this person, and what information can you provide about him and his activities?
Dept. of Homeland Security
---
### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/7 "2011-12-02T18:35:31Z")
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. Only 7 left in stock.
Add to cart
---
### Author:  [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/8 "2011-12-02T19:16:02Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#):
>
> Ms Viginia O’Hanlon
>
> It has come to our attention that you are expressing interest in the individual known as Claus, Santa. This individual is presently being held in a secure facility after violating US borders, and under enhanced interrogation has admitted to Al Qaeda ties, as well as the intent to leave incendiary material in the homes he deemed “naughty”. What is your interest in this person, and what information can you provide about him and his activities?
> Dept. of Homeland Security
I presume you know Arlo Guthrie’s “[The Pause of Mr. Claus](http://www.lyricsty.com/arlo-guthrie-the-pause-of-mr-claus-lyrics.html)”…
Santa Claus has a red suit
Must be a Communist
And a beard, and long hair
Must be a pacifist
What’s in the pipe that he’s smoking?..
---
### Author:  [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/9 "2011-12-02T19:34:41Z")
> [@Hilary\_Algar](#):
>
> Well, our very own Cecil Adams had a masterful treatise on this very topic on 12/26/1997 where he concludes that “Santa Claus’ existence _ **cannot** _ be definitely ruled out.”
>
> good enough for me
>
> [Is there a Santa Claus? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1370/is-there-a-santa-claus)
Well, it’s the exact same argument presented in debates on religion here, which dress themselves up as intellectual..
I actually think Santa is a really good lesson in skepticism for our children. We trick children into believing that there’s this benevolent being that’s always watching over them, watching them at all times to evaluate their behavior, and rewarding good behavior. Our culture embraces this guy, your peers and those you trust are telling you he’s real, and you’re forming a real emotional stake in his existance.
And then the rug is pulled out from under your feet. Oh, ha ha, yes, there’s no magic guy who somehow delivers presents to the whole world in one night. It was always your parents all along, tricking you. Even though you were so sure in your heart that Santa must be real, well, no, there’s just no magic there. Sorry.
I wonder how many kids were put on a path to rationalism and skepticism by the Santa revelation. The only difference with religion is that the parents sincerely believe along with the kids. Breaking the Santa myth is psychologically a good step in developing the tools to question other myths.
---
### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/10 "2011-12-02T20:00:20Z")
There certainly is something intagible known as “Christmas spirit”. If someone wants to give the intangible a coporeal body and call it “Santa Claus”, who am I to argue?
---
### Author:  [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/11 "2011-12-02T21:58:52Z")
I got one better, up here if the kids still believes he exists. One environmentalist up here is going after children with the hopes I suppose it sends the kids crying to their parents.
The fatman is going to [drown](http://www.wherewillsantalive.ca/#page=0) Virginia.
---
### Author:  [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/12 "2011-12-02T23:09:38Z")
> [@cjepson](#):
>
> I presume you know Arlo Guthrie’s “[The Pause of Mr. Claus](http://www.lyricsty.com/arlo-guthrie-the-pause-of-mr-claus-lyrics.html)”…
>
> Santa Claus has a red suit
> Must be a Communist
> And a beard, and long hair
> Must be a pacifist
> What’s in the pipe that he’s smoking?..
No, I didn’t. Now I must get a copy.
Personally, I wish I had thought to tell my children the story of [St. Nicholas and the prostitutes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas#Legends_and_folklore). No stocking should be hung without that tender memory.
---
### Author:  [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/13 "2011-12-03T00:02:47Z")
"Dear Virginia.
"It’s the 21st century.
"Google it.
---
### Author:  [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/14 "2011-12-03T02:41:18Z")
Andy Rooney once said, “there is a Santa Claus, but he doesn’t always show up” - words to that effect.
---
### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2011, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/15 "2011-12-03T02:52:55Z")
"Dear Virginia,
Daddy is stupid. Looking at the sun is bad for you."
---
### Author:  [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/16 "2011-12-03T03:25:21Z")
Yes, Virginia, there is an Abdullah Rashid al-Baghdad
---
### Author:  [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/17 "2011-12-03T03:26:24Z")
…
---
### Author:  [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/18 "2011-12-03T17:56:33Z")
I prefer Terry Pratchett’s version of it, as in the Hogfather. I like to think that this is one of the little lies we tell children to condition ourselves as human beings to believe in the big lies, like peace, democracy, justice and hope.
Well, Virginia - would it be better if I said he existed or if I said to you that there are, right at this moment, hundreds of thousands of adults there working to make it like he existed?
---
### Author:  [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/19 "2011-12-03T22:08:28Z")
Next you’ll tell us there’s no Hanukkah Harry, yeah right.
---
### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2011, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846/20 "2011-12-03T22:47:30Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#):
>
> Well, it’s the exact same argument presented in debates on religion here, which dress themselves up as intellectual..
>
> I actually think Santa is a really good lesson in skepticism for our children. We trick children into believing that there’s this benevolent being that’s always watching over them, watching them at all times to evaluate their behavior, and rewarding good behavior. Our culture embraces this guy, your peers and those you trust are telling you he’s real, and you’re forming a real emotional stake in his existance.
>
> And then the rug is pulled out from under your feet. Oh, ha ha, yes, there’s no magic guy who somehow delivers presents to the whole world in one night. It was always your parents all along, tricking you. Even though you were so sure in your heart that Santa must be real, well, no, there’s just no magic there. Sorry.
Except that, I never felt tricked. I never had the rug pulled out from under my feet. At some age, I realized that “Santa Claus” was a benevolent conspiracy to make me, and all children, happy. Santa Claus was my parents arranging for me to have toys and candy and happy surprises, without them taking credit for it. Which, when you’re old enough to appreciate it, is a more wonderful and heart-gladdening thing than the literal existence of a fat elf in a red suit who lives at the North Pole.
So today what I believe is that Santa Claus is a symbol of, or metaphor for, something that really does exist.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-virginia-there-is-no-santa-claus/604846.md?page=2)