Tag: Christmas
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More than St. Patrick’s Day: New Orleans’ Irish History, Part 2
In our most recent blog post, we tackled Irish history in New Orleans, from its beginnings in the 1700s all the way to nearly the mid-point of the 19th century. With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, we wanted to finish our exploration of this immigrant that has added so much to the Crescent…
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More than St. Patrick’s Day: New Orleans’ Irish History, Part 1
St. Patrick’s Day is nearly upon us! It has been mere weeks since Mardi Gras, but we’re ready for another parade-centric celebration. St. Paddy’s Day parades are held across the globe, but in New Orleans, they really make sense. We’re a city with a ton of Irish history. For example, by the 1880s, the neighborhood…
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Lent: The story about the period of scarcity following Mardi Gras
The overindulgence of Mardi Gras is over and we are now in a period of scarcity known as Lent. For many, this time of the year—the more than six weeks between Ash Wednesday and Holy Thursday preceding Easter—is a time marked by a smudge of ash on your forehead, Friday night fish fries, and giving…
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Did you know king cake used to be a one-day-a-year treat?
Everyone in our slice of Louisiana is fully aware that king cake season begins on January 6. It’s the beginning of Carnival season, which means our favorite purple, green, and gold treat is available all the way until Mardi Gras. But what many people — and we’d wager to say most people — don’t realize…
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Twelfth Night Traditions of New Orleans
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…
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Twelfth Night and The Feast of the Epiphany
Many consider December 25th and Christmas Day to be the end of the Christmas season. Trees and decorations are taken down before the new year begins and the idea of continuing to feast after that belly-busting Christmas dinner is unthinkable. But for those who know the 12 Days of Christmas as more than a seasonal…
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Visions of Christmas Past on Canal Street
Canal Street in New Orleans is a magical place at Christmas. Snow appears in Fulton Alley despite temperatures often being a balmy 70 degrees, streetcars and lamp posts bear wreaths, and thousands upon thousands of lights glow throughout the giant live oaks of City Park. Countless people take in these sights every year, often stopping…
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Take a Streetcar Tour for the Holidays
If you’ve ever been in New Orleans for the holidays, you know the city loves to dress itself in all the finery of the season. It seems every home is jeweled and crowned by twinkling lights while oak and palm trees are swathed with wreaths and ribbons. To truly appreciate the festive displays this winter,…
