We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of Blogcritics.org:

Mr. Petrisko,

Virginia O'Hanlon

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. I'd very much like to tell you that, but I can't. It's just no longer true.

Santa Claus is dead.

He was killed by rampant consumerism and corporate greed.

Now, you might be asking, "Who killed Santa Claus?" and I will tell you. If you want somebody to blame for the jolly elf's demise, I can name his killer. Your parents, Virginia. First and foremost, blame them. However, they did not act alone. Millions of people worldwide, aiding and abetting each other, are at fault.

But in the end, the result is the same. Santa Claus is as dead as Thanksgiving's turkey. No more will his cheeks be rosy. Nor will his droll little mouth draw up like a bow ever again. No longer will his little round belly shake like a bowlful of jelly. We just have to be grateful that, unlike that turkey, nobody actually ate the corpse of Santa. Thankfully, forensics turned up no sign of cannibalism at the scene of the crime.

And, sadly, now that the corpse of Santa has been stolen from the morgue, I imagine it's only a matter of time before his cold, lifeless body turns up for sale to the highest bidder on eBay.

For far too many, that in itself would embody the modern day spirit of Christmas.

That said, Virginia, you might be comforted to know that the true spirit of Christmas still lives on in a few people. Many are wide-eyed, innocent children such as yourself. Others are grown ups who still have the often lost ability to look at life with childlike wonderment.

Virginia, I want you to know that I will do my best to spread the Christmas spirit. I will do what I began to do last year at this time.