The most frequently reprinted editorial column in American history — the famous “Yes, Virginia” paean to childhood wonder and belief in Santa Claus — was published 109 years ago today in the New York Sun. Yep, today, a full three months before Santa’s scheduled arrival. It seems this wasn’t just a ridiculous error on the Sun‘s part — according to this mind-bogglingly extensive academic paper,

Virginia O’Hanlon said years after publication that she, as a child, began wondering at her birthday in July what gifts she would receive at Christmas. Her excited speculation prompted her to write to the Sun in the summer of 1897. … Her letter has been ignored or overlooked at the Sun for weeks. O’Hanlon said on a number of occasions that she had waited at length for the newspaper to address her inquiry. [Author Francis Pharcellus] Church, however, was said to have written the reply “hastily, in the course of the day’s work.”

You can see the full, originally published clip after the jump, courtesy of the Newseum.