Paul writes a letter home each of the twelve days he spends exploring Louisiana at Christmastime, as his cousin Rosalie shows him everything from a pelican in a cypress tree to twelve sparkly strands of Mardi Gras beads. Includes facts about Louisiana.
"From the festivities of yesteryear, revolving around religion and faith, to today's events, such as City Park's Celebration in the Oaks, New Orleanians observe Christmas with inimitable style. Late-night feasts, or réveillions, and rare occurrences of a winter-white Christmas are jsut a couple of nostalgic moments readers may stumble upon while perusing the pictures and warm recollections of notable locals, including Irma Thomas, Anne Rice, and Decon John Moore. In a celebration that has become as unique as the city itself, the images of a Christmas in New Orleans are classic and unforgettable. Descriptions of merriment, dating from the 1800s to post-Katrina, delicious recipes from Chef John Besh, bonfires along the levees, and the seasonal melodies of a city world renowned for its music are presented in this brilliant volume" -- inside cover.
Around the world Santa Claus has many names. But in a deep, swampy bayou of Louisiana, he's known as Papa Noël. In such a hot and humid place, there can be no sleds or reindeer, so Papa Noël rides the river in a boat that's pulled by eight alligators, with a snowy white one named Nicollette in the lead. On this particular Christmas Eve, it's so foggy on the river that even Nicollette's magical glowing-green eyes may not be enough to guide Papa Noël. The alligators are tired, grumpy and bruised from banging into cypress trees, and Papa is desperate to get all the gifts to the little children. Well, "quicker than a snake shimmies down the river," the clever Cajun people come up with a solution that saves the day. A colorfully inventive Christmas tale, Papa Noël is a lesson in fast thinking, as well as a witty introduction to a part of America that's rich in folklore and legend.
Repetition, alliteration, and visual humor abound in this Mardi Gras themed riff on the iconic holiday song, perfect for emerging readers and early counters. As each day of the Mardi Gras season passes, a gift is given. Each of the many, many, many gifts is familiar to those who embrace the season's traditions. Coming in twos, twelves, fives and fours, the gifts include majestic masks, floats a rolling, golden shoes, and cherished cups. Colorful illustrations provide lots of additional hijinks and engagement in this soon-to-be-classic holiday tale!
Covers the story of how Mr. Bingle came to be created as a New Orleans Christmas character for a local department store and evetually as a familiar New Orleans advertising character.
In the whole body of Christmas carols sung in English, among the most famous and beloved is a song universally called "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Although its association with the holiday remains unquestioned, the tune was originally a raucous drinking song with wildly different connotations. This book documents the unfamiliar and distant history of one of the world's most well-known holiday songs, inextricably linked to the earliest celebrations of a festival suppressed by the Church itself. The rowdy and mischievous tone of traditional Christmas has vanished, as have the songs that accompanied the festival of drinking, gambling, fighting, feasting and sex. Modern participants of Christmas may be either embarrassed or pleased to discover the scandalous roots of a beloved holiday classic.
It's Christmas Eve. Have you been good? Santa's packed up all the presents and is headed your way! With the help of a certain red-nosed reindeer, Santa flies over many landmarks in Louisiana! "Ho, ho, ho!" laughs Santa. "Merry Christmas, Louisiana!"