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Quiz about Yes Virginia There Is a Santa Claus
Quiz about Yes Virginia There Is a Santa Claus

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus Quiz


"Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus" (or, its correct title of "Is There a Santa Claus?") is perhaps the most well known newspaper editorial of all, and seems to be reprinted every year at Christmas time. But how much do you know about it?

A multiple-choice quiz by jcpetersen. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
jcpetersen
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
272,660
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
2000
Awards
Top 10% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. The editorial "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus" was first published in which New York City newspaper? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. When was the editorial "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus" first published? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Virginia was only 8 years old when she wrote her letter to the paper, but what was her last name? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. What was the name of the man who wrote the editorial response to Virginia's question? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The editor who answered Virginia was NOT: Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Who told Virginia there was no Santa Claus? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Complete this line from the editorial: "Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no ________."
Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Complete this line from the editorial: "Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in _____." Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Virginia's "Papa" told her to send her question to the paper. What did her father do for a living? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. According to the editorial, for how long will Santa Claus "continue to make glad the heart of childhood"? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The editorial "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus" was first published in which New York City newspaper?

Answer: The New York Sun

"The New York Sun" was very slow to recognize the importance of the editorial, and even though the paper got annual requests for the editorial to be republished, refused to do so for five years following the initial publication and then did it only reluctantly. It wasn't until the 1920s that "The Sun" reprinted the editorial annually until the paper went out of business in 1949.
2. When was the editorial "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus" first published?

Answer: September 21, 1897

It was buried on the editorial page, under ones about New York State politics, New York City politics, questions about Connecticut's election laws, the British navy in the Atlantic, plans for a railroad to link the gold mines of the Yukon with eastern Canada, and features of a new "chainless" bicycle expected to debut the next year.
3. Virginia was only 8 years old when she wrote her letter to the paper, but what was her last name?

Answer: O'Hanlon

Virginia O'Hanlon grew up to be a teacher and then a principal in the New York City school system. She was briefly married to Edward Douglas, who left her shortly before their daughter, Laura, was born. Virginia kept the surname "Douglas", however. She died on May 13, 1971 at the age of 81.
4. What was the name of the man who wrote the editorial response to Virginia's question?

Answer: Francis P. Church

Francis Pharcellus Church wrote the editorial, but as per the paper's policy he was not immediately credited by name - he was only publicly acknowledged as the author after his death in 1906.

Clement C. Moore wrote the poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas", better known as "The Night Before Christmas".

Haddon H. Sundblom is best known for the images of Santa Claus he did for the Coca-Cola Company.

Charles A. Dana was the publisher of paper where the editorial appeared, and while he did not write the editorial he was erroneously credited with doing so when "The Arizona Republican" first reprinted it.
5. The editor who answered Virginia was NOT:

Answer: Married

Francis P. Church married shortly after the editorial was published. He died in 1906, and did not have any children. He also wasn't very happy about this particular assignment, but wrote the editorial anyway, and did so quickly, the same day it appeared on his desk.
6. Who told Virginia there was no Santa Claus?

Answer: Her friends

Virginia was an only child. While Santa Claus had always given her presents, there were less fortunate boys and girls who made her doubt his existence.

"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus," she wrote.
7. Complete this line from the editorial: "Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no ________."

Answer: Virginias

The text continues: "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."
8. Complete this line from the editorial: "Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in _____."

Answer: fairies

The text continues: "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."
9. Virginia's "Papa" told her to send her question to the paper. What did her father do for a living?

Answer: Coroner's Assistant

Virginia's family often wrote to the semi-regular "question and answer" column in the paper (entitled "Notes and Queries"), and when she couldn't get a straight answer from her Papa, she wrote to the paper. She was surprised to see a response weeks later on the editorial page instead.
10. According to the editorial, for how long will Santa Claus "continue to make glad the heart of childhood"?

Answer: 100,000 years

"No Santa Claus? Thank God he lives and 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."

10 x 10,000 years = 100,000 years
Source: Author jcpetersen

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor trident before going online.
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