Macy's Christmas Commercial - Yes, Virginia - landonhowell.com

A commercial from Macy's 2008 Holiday Campaign 'Yes, Virginia'.

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BACKGROUND
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. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

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"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."

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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. 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.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Christmas
• santaclaus
• Macys
• commercial
• ad
• advertisement
• holiday
• 2008

[puckhiggins]

I cry almost every time I watch this commercial. I miss the holiday spirit I had when I was a child.

[dawgfan0320]

I love this commercial. It celebrates the very essence of childhood, and is just wonderful. How dreary would our world be with out hope, imagination, and childlike beliefs? The belief in Santa Claus is just wonderful. And I love that Macy's encourages such good thoughts for children. Kudos. Ahh, I love Christmas. And no matter what you say, I know Santa Claus is visiting me (;

[danthewolf1997]

The little girl is my tech teacher's daughter.

[Laurpalooza]

this brought tears to my eyes how sweet

[damper520]

You can get $500 Macys gift!

freemacys.info

[imapirate16]

5 ppl's hands must have slipped and hit dislike.. seriously, how could you dislike this? i love macy's!! anyone ever been to the nyc macy's at chrismastime? i haven't been ther ein a few years and would love to hear your experiences :)

[rfbarrington88]

was that donald trump

[99dodgeram360]

@77mcasta I agree with you..even the part about almost being 20 (me too) Christmas has a magical effect on almost everyone and the time of year is just amazing, I have never ONCe even stopped loving the spirit of Christmas and I am excited that it is only a couple months away now!!

[missuniworld]

creepy people!

[artistonpc22]

no more registration essential. no download claimed. bother free entertainment. see yes virginia full length edition in HD quality for free online at hdmoviez . co . tv

[Giselle971]

Yes Virginia, there is a santa claus. i just love this commercial plus im learning about her in school and the editor. i just wish i can meet Virginia in person. I still belive in santa claus and i am 12 years old. o well there is nothing wrong in beliving in santa claus. GO VIRGINA!!!

[77mcasta]

This is one of my favorite commercials. I absolutely agree with the response the editor wrote & I'm almost 20. I love Christmas, the season, the spirit. Everything about it is just wonderful. I will never stop believing. It saddens me that so many people denounce Christmas as purely commercial. Merry Christmas everyone!