Christmas in New Orleans: Have Yourself a Very Creole Christmas
When the wreaths are on the streetcars and the palm trees on Canal Street are all lit up, that's when you know it's Christmas in New Orleans. It isn't Mardi Gras, but it's just as enchanting. Have yourself a very Creole Christmas full of New Orleans traditions. The streetcar bells are dinging just like Santa.
Joyeux Noël. That's what the signs say over the bus drivers' heads. Everyone's in a better mood than usual. There is music everywhere, and not just the usual kind.
There's Christmas music and then there's New Orleans Christmas music, the kind that can only come from the city where jazz music was invented. It's still going strong. Turn on the radio (WWOZ, 90.7 on your FM dial), and you'll hear more than Grandma getting run over by a reindeer. There is nothing ticky-tacky about Christmas in New Orleans. It's authentically home-grown, home-baked, and Creole. Oysters in the stuffing.
Réveillon: A New Orleans Christmas Tradition
Réveillon is a New Orleans Christmas tradition that goes back to the city's French Catholic roots. Originally, families gathered for an elaborate feast after midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. There were oysters, turtle soup, roast meats, rich sauces, and plenty of wine. Nobody went hungry.
The tradition has been revived, and today restaurants throughout New Orleans offer special Réveillon dinners during December. You don't have to wait until Christmas Eve. You can celebrate on an ordinary Tuesday. It's a good excuse to enjoy some of the best Creole cooking in the world.
Christmas Lights and Music in New Orleans
New Orleans knows how to decorate for Christmas. The French Quarter balconies are draped with garlands, Jackson Square glows beneath the illuminated St. Louis Cathedral, and Canal Street is dressed for the season.
At City Park, Celebration in the Oaks transforms the ancient live oak trees into a wonderland of Christmas lights. It's a holiday tradition for New Orleans families and visitors alike.
There are also Christmas concerts at St. Louis Cathedral, holiday performances around town, and plenty of live music. New Orleans musicians have their own way of interpreting familiar Christmas songs. You won't hear the same arrangements everywhere else.
December Is a Wonderful Time to Visit New Orleans
December is one of the most pleasant months to explore New Orleans. The summer heat is gone, the weather is usually mild, and the city isn't as crowded as it is during Mardi Gras or the spring festivals.
You can spend an afternoon wandering through the French Quarter, ride a streetcar beneath the Christmas decorations, or explore the neighborhoods where New Orleanians live.
Esplanade Avenue is especially handsome this time of year. The historic houses stand beneath the live oaks, City Park is nearby, and there are plenty of neighborhood restaurants and cafés to discover.
At La Belle Esplanade, our little five-suite boutique hotel on Esplanade Avenue, we enjoy showing guests the New Orleans that exists beyond the usual tourist attractions. Christmas is a particularly good time to experience it.
Have yourself a very Creole Christmas.
Joyeux Noël from New Orleans.