Category: New Orleans Culture

Twelfth Night Traditions of New Orleans

January 6, 2023

Twelfth Night — or January 6 — is the undisputed kick-off to Carnival season! But the Twelfth night of what? In many parts of the world, Twelfth Night and the Christian holiday, Epiphany, are synonymous. One definition of epiphany is “the manifestation of a supernatural being.” In this case, that supernatural being was the baby…
The Native People of New Orleans

December 2, 2021

When a city has as much history as New Orleans, it can be easy to get swept up in the dramatic parts. From the yearly fight against yellow fever epidemics to the French Quarter burning twice, too often we forget that hundreds of small events added up to create the ones everybody remembers. We also…
Why Do We Carve Pumpkins Every Halloween?

October 1, 2021

Why Do We Carve Pumpkins? Carving a Jack O’Lantern can be one of the most anticipated activities of the Halloween season. Picking the perfect pumpkin, deciding on a design, and creating its face is a wonderful way to spend time together. But have you ever wondered exactly why we carve pumpkins every year? Well friends,…
Fresh Jazz/Old Mint

May 25, 2021

In a city known for its uniqueness, the combined Old U.S. Mint and New Orleans Jazz Museum are among the most unconventional of pairings. Housed in a nearly 200-year-old building, the idea of one of the world’s largest jazz archives being kept in a decommissioned mint may seem incongruent at first. But the merging of…
Meet Me Under My Porch’s Flagpole

April 22, 2021

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is entering its 51st year. While last year’s festival had to be canceled, the 2021 festival is scheduled for October. This is good news for music lovers and for the city of New Orleans. This upcoming return to normalcy is a welcome ritual where friends and family unite for…