The Answer:

In 1897, Francis P. Church, an editor at The New York Sun, answered eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon's questions with his famous "Yes, Virgina" essay.

Virginia wrote to The Sun, "I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say that there is no Santa Claus. Papa says 'If you see it in The Sun, it is so.' Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?"

Church replied, "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 our life its highest beauty and joy."

Here's the complete text of Church's answer.

—The Editors