A Gross Misapprehension
There are two ways of approaching this editorial. One is to take it entirely as sincere and that is, of course, the way in which it has been viewed by most people. There is a ghost in the machine however: every other editorial written by Mr. Church expressed a distinctly skeptical view toward religious faith that often equated it with belief in superstitions. In other words, everything about this editorial appears at first glance to be contradiction of the writer’s well-established personality and ideology. On the other hand, reading it with this background in mind changes the context entirely so that everything that seems to be an expression of sincere testimony is altered into a corrosively ironic piece of satire ranking up there with Swift’s “A Modest Proposal.”
Opening Lines
The very first hint that this editorial is the sly work of a satirical genius is its opening lines which respond to Virginia’s desire to know for sure if there is a Santa Claus. It would appear that she is actually pretty firm in her commitment to believing Santa Claus is real. It is here more skeptical friends who have placed doubt in her mind. The writer starts off by denigrating this skepticism, but keep in mind that skepticism is learned and not an inherent genetic predisposition. And who at the time was one of the foremost proponents of skeptical thinking? The very writer of these lines:
“Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age.”
No, Virginia
The most immediately obvious irony in this reply remains there whether one views the work as a whole sincerely or ironically. Remember, this was written in response to a letter from an eight-year-old girl asking if Santa Claus exists. Therefore, what Virginia is really asking is whether a certain known figure who rides around in a sleigh powered by flying reindeer while delivering presents to homes around the world in a single exists. That is not, however, the answer she receives. Ironically, even though the very title indicates that the answer is yes, the actual content is a subtle but very firm denial of the existence of that certain known figure implied in the question:
“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist”
The Ironic Centerpiece
The epicenter of the argument favoring the position that this beloved work of sincerity is really a brilliant example of satirical insincerity that has duped millions is found right around the center of the text. It all boils down to a simple question that needs to be asked. In reading the following assertion, is there to be found even the slightest hint of rational thought and the logic of a skeptical mind if interpreted as an expression of sincere philosophical principles?
“The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see.”
Oh, Come On!
In retrospect, it seems inconceivable that so many people could take the language in this editorial from a man infamous for criticizing blind faith in the past as anything other than satire. Then again, in the Age of Irony even the most sincere of writing is first picked apart to ensure it is not somehow secretly ironic. Irony and satire existed at the time this editorial was published, but it was rarely addressed toward something as sacred as Christmas. So, perhaps it is as sincere as it seems. But if that is true, how to explain this:
“Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there.”
