by A hockey-playing boy in Milwaukee asks which Santa is real, what is special about Lake Michigan, and why Wisconsin is the Dairyland
A Letter to Santa from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dear Santa,
Hi Santa! My name is Carter and I am 8 years old. I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a friendly city beside a great lake, in a state full of dairy farms. I love cheese curds and playing hockey. My question is a confusing one: which Santa Claus is the real one? I see Santas at the mall, in parades, and on TV! My geography question is: what is special about Lake Michigan? And my social studies question is: why is Wisconsin called America’s Dairyland? Thanks, Santa!
Love, Carter (age 8)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, hello Carter! That is a clever question, and I am happy to clear it up. Here is the secret: I am very busy up at the North Pole, so all those friendly Santas you see, at the mall, in the parade, and on TV, are my helpers. I send them out to spread cheer, listen to wishes, and carry your messages back to me. They wear the suit and share the spirit, so in a way each one is a little bit me. But the one true Santa, the spirit of giving, is exactly the same inside every single one of them. So they are all real helpers of the real me.
Your geography question: Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan, which your own Milwaukee sits beside, is one of the five Great Lakes, and it is special because it is the only one of them that lies entirely within the United States. It is so vast that it has sandy beaches, rolling waves, and even lighthouses, just like an ocean, yet its water is fresh, not salty. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: America’s Dairyland
Your own Wisconsin is nicknamed America’s Dairyland because it is famous for its many dairy farms and the delicious milk, butter, and cheese they produce. Those cheese curds you love come from this proud tradition. Farming has long been a way of life there, and it helps feed people far beyond the state’s borders. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Score a goal for me, Carter. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
