amandapalmer
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Yes, Virginia, It’s Already Christmas Eve in New Zealand. (the annual reading….from bed…for patrons 📝🎄♥️)
🕑 Added 2025-12-24 10:10:30 +0000 UTCMy loves.
Greetings from BED!!!! It’s already late late on Christmas Eve down under.
The rest of the house is asleep.
The tree is lit. No mices are stirring.
I missed doing this reading last year, and the year before….i used to do it every year but then, things collapsed and I had a tiny kid and, well. Fa la la la la la la.
This year I had an enthusiastic camera-person….who had never, ever heard the letter.
It’s one of my favorite pieces of writing of all time (I even named The Dresden Dolls’ second record after it) and it just gets better and better over the years.
Enjoy, my friends, and wherever you are in the world, I hope you can still believe in the things you need to believe in.
If I can, you can.
Virginia O'Hanlon (c. 1895)
…….
Here’s the handwritten letter (that I read from) for the film….
I handwrote it this year - earlier this evening - because I didn’t have access to a printer.
But it’s also….nice, because now I have a three-page-handwritten-Yes-Virginia to mail to one of you.
Who wants it?
Hands up, first person who needs it and puts their request for it in the comments gets it in the mail (from New Zealand) for Christmas, and I’ll add some little treats.
I’ll DM you to get your address.
Goodnight, my wonderful patrons, good night.
I am settling into a deep winter’s summer nap.
I am wishing all of you, every one of you, peace in your homes, in your families, in your cars, in your hammocks, in your treehouses, in your subways…wherever this may find you.
I hope you can hold steady. It’s horrible out there, sometimes. But sometimes, there are little moments of peace like this.
The carrots are OUT, and I’ve heard and shared a rumor that the big guy like donuts as much as cookies.
We are still true believers over here in this house.
And now, it’s time to say goodnight.
Sleep tight.
And may you wake up to find people, animals, or any entity at all living or dead who truly loves you, nearby, in whatever form.
Love is so much vaster than so many of us can comprehend; this much is true.
And with that….zzzzzzzz.
Xxx
A
Film by Ash.
Comments
Scott Meekins
You have a great tan, Amanda! Happy New Year!
Emmy Birch
I never heard that before. It was beautiful! And a lovely reading as well. Thank you Miss Amanda!
Marie
Yes, Amanda! Happy Xmas from cold(ish) Scandinavia. White wine in the sun for you ❤️
Laura Wellner
Merry Christmas, Amanda and Ash! (I still believe in the magical essence of Santa Claus.)
Amanda Palmer
I know. Love you, Tom. ♥️🎄♥️
Len Tower Jr.
Speediest Recovery EVAH !!!
Len Tower Jr.
I remember when I found out that my parents & granddad were doing the stuff attributed to Santa. It increased my love for them. The with reflection: that untruths could be good when done for a greater truth.
Amanda WouldGo
Yes, Virginia!! It reminds me of the song Make Believe by Mother Mother. It’s not very Christmas-y but they probably believe in Santa for all of the reasons the author stated so beautifully.
Mike The SandbridgeKid
There was a wonderful made-for- television movie in the late 1970's based on this letter, ser in the 1890's NYC.. It's on YouTube somewhere.
Laura Damone
Merry Christmas Amanda! Beautifully read. I’m healing from the scary car crash I wish it was faster. Thank goodness for heavy duty antibiotics I had an infection from the blister that popped the antibiotics are working well . That’s my update. It’s lonely and I’m slightly depressed.. listening to you always helps I don’t feel so alone. The bruises are still there only on both legs there getting better. ❤️🌹🎅🏼🎄
Larissa Rook
Beautiful film work, Ash! Merry Christmas Everyone!
Tom Steiger
See? You're gonna be okay. We got you.
Holly Mears
Well...it's sweet, but I've never thought that lying to kids about Santa is a good idea and they shouldn't start. Myself and some friends have spoken before of the disillusionment when we learned the truth and how we all felt like that was the first lie we can remember our parents telling us. None of this means that wonder and joy should not be engendered in children, and encouraged.
