by A young actor in Tulsa asks the cost of Santa suits, what a plateau is, and why oil was important to Tulsa
A Letter to Santa from Tulsa, Oklahoma
Dear Santa,
Hi Santa! My name is Bennett and I am 8 years old. I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a city by a river with beautiful old buildings from the days of oil. I love acting in plays and riding my scooter. My question is: how much are Santa Claus suits? My geography question is: what is a plateau? And my social studies question is: what is oil, and why was it so important to Tulsa? Thanks, Santa!
Love, Bennett (age 8)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, hello Bennett! A young actor will appreciate a good costume answer. Santa suits can cost very different amounts. A simple one for dressing up at home is quite affordable, while a deluxe professional suit, with a soft velvet coat, a real-looking beard, big black boots, and a wide belt, costs a good deal more. The price depends on how grand and fancy you want to look. But remember the most important thing: the priceless part of any Santa suit is the kind and generous heart inside it, and that part is always free.
Your geography question: what is a plateau
A plateau is a large area of high, flat land that rises above the land around it, like a giant raised tabletop. Near your own Tulsa lies the edge of the Ozark Plateau. Plateaus form over long ages, and their flat tops and steep sides make for dramatic scenery, with rivers sometimes carving deep canyons into them. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: oil and Tulsa
Oil is a thick, dark liquid found deep underground that can be turned into fuel for cars, planes, and machines. Long ago, huge amounts of oil were discovered near your own Tulsa, and the city boomed almost overnight, earning the nickname the Oil Capital of the World. The money from oil built many of the grand buildings you still see today. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Break a leg in your next play for me, Bennett. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
