by Ava, age 9, asks how many lights a house needs, about the Great Salt Lake, and the city’s founding
Dear Santa,
Howdy from Salt Lake City. My name is Ava and I am 9 years old. Our whole street does a lights competition every year, and my dad has been quietly measuring our roofline with a tape measure for weeks, muttering about needing just one more box of lights.
My first question is: how many lights do you need to decorate a whole house?
My second question is geography: what famous lake is near Salt Lake City?
My third question is from school: why was Salt Lake City founded in 1847?
I left you funeral potatoes, a cheesy potato dish, which sounds strange but tastes wonderful.
Love, Ava, age 9, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Ava, funeral potatoes may have an odd name, but they were absolutely delicious, cheesy and warm. Now, to help your dad’s tape measure mission, and your other questions.
How many lights do you need to decorate a whole house?
A commonly used guideline for outlining a roofline is around 100 lights for every 1.5 to 2 metres, though it depends on how tightly spaced you want them and whether you are also covering bushes, windows, or a walkway. Many families plan for a total ranging from a few hundred lights for a modest display up to several thousand for a truly show-stopping competition entry. Given your street clearly takes this seriously, your dad’s careful measuring is probably a very wise investment before that final box of lights.
What famous lake is near Salt Lake City?
The Great Salt Lake sits just to the northwest of the city, one of the largest salt lakes in the entire Western Hemisphere. Its water is so salty that people can float on the surface almost effortlessly, much saltier even than the ocean.
Why was Salt Lake City founded in 1847?
Salt Lake City was founded by a group of pioneers, led by Brigham Young, who arrived in the valley in 1847 seeking a place to settle and build their community after a long and difficult journey west. They chose the valley near the Great Salt Lake partly for its isolation and access to water, and the city grew from that original settlement into the capital of Utah that stands there today.
Good luck in the lights competition, and I shall see you very soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
