One of the most famous letters to the editor ever published was written by an 8-year-old girl who had doubts about Santa Claus. She sought help from The New York Sun. The answer, first published

When we light a menorah or decorate a tree, when we tell stories of miracles or marvels, we are not merely passing along traditions — we are cultivating the capacity to notice the quiet magic

Every year, the Sentinel republishes the timeless story behind the most famous letter to the editor and editorial ever written. By now, the backstory is well known. It starts with a curious little

All those are good deeds, but one tale of St. Nick is a great deed that stands head and shoulders above the others; St. Nicholas, it is said, resurrected three children who had been murdered, chopped up, and and pickled in brine by an evil butcher planning to sell them as pork during a famine.

It is, perhaps, the most famous editorial ever written. One that has been reprinted year in,, year out in newspapers around the world. It first appeared in the Sept. 27, 1897, edition of the New York Sun as a response to a letter from a little girl just 8 years old.

Santa Claus, a symbol of Christmas generosity, is rooted in the 4th-century Christian bishop Saint Nicholas from Myra, who was known for secret gift-giving. The tradition evolved in America from the Dutch 'Sinterklaas'.

If your child does begin to show curiosity around whether Santa is real, Leatherbarrow recommends answering their questions truthfully – after all, if they’re not satisfied with your answer, they will probably look online, or ask others, instead. “When children start asking direct questions, resist the urge to deflect or lie outright,” she said.

Understandably, children are curious about the bearded man in red. There’s a lot of magic wrapped up in Santa's story - and Christmas itself is one of the most joyful times of the year, full of festive mystery.

Santa’s existence was proved conclusively in 1897 by Francis P. Church, of The New York Sun. His editorial is reprinted here as a public service:

Baltimore-area journalist Rona Kobell grew up in a largely Jewish community where believing in Santa was not the norm. Though she was living in a Christian-dominated area by the time she and her husband had children of their own, she said, “I kind of just thought we would ignore it, like my parents did.”