Louisiana Local Custom Tips by ClarkRB

dual-language sign

There is a huge misconception that Americans only use English. While for many this rings true, there are certain states that are not only bilingual, but the American citizens themselves have taken it upon themselves to learn the second lanuage.

French is a highly spoken language in Louisiana. Mainly confined to the cajun regions of southern Louisiana, you shouldn't be suprised to hear many speaking french on the streets. It has the same status with languages as New Brunswick Canada. Tour guides speaking french are very easy to find. The Province of Quebec Canada has put a lot of time and effort to revitalize the french heritage of Louisiana. Along with parts of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, French speakers will find Louisiana caters to those who use French as a first language. In addition to French, you'll hear lots of Spanish and Creole spoken in this diversified state as well.

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Local Customs: A helping hand

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Written by ClarkRB

on Oct 8, 2006

Hot meals

Its interesting to think that one of the local customs about Louisiana is mostly about people from other parts of the nation. As many know, this region was affected greatly by mother nature in the summer of 2005. Many states across the country and many countries across the world lent what they could to this damaged area. The struggle continues. Many are still at work here cleaning up the city. It seemed like wherever you looked, signs of non-profit organization were everywhere.

One of the things that is still difficult to find in New Orleans these days are open restaurants. Many restaurant owners abandoned their establishments and have not come back. Looking into the windows of what were once restaurants shows two things: Calendars that stopped when New Orleans was evacuated, and water damage.

Therefore, the workers of New Orleans relies heavily on non-profit organizations for their meal needs. Many like the Red Cross and Salvation Army were giving away hot meals to workers and residents trying to pick up the huge mess.

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Local Customs: Trapping

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Updated by ClarkRB

on Oct 8, 2006

Trapping equipment - Louisiana

Trapping is done in the winter. The animals that are trapped lived in the marsh and the swamps. Today, trapping is just about gone, as people of course object to wearing fur. There are a few rough Cajuns still out there trapping though.

It�s important to note though that our grandfathers trapped because it was a way of survival. Trappers never wasted anything. The raccoon was skinned, the fur was used and the meat was eaten. I believe the trappers were the first conservationists.

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Local Customs: The original Cajuns

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Updated by ClarkRB

on Oct 8, 2006

Cajun from early 1930

People seem to have a hard time understanding what "Cajun" is. They think nothing more of it than a flavor of chicken at Popeye's Chicken, or a famous chef cooking weird seafood on TV, or this real ugly politian known as the Ragin' Cajun (James Carville).

Cajun comes from the word Acadian. If you look at a map of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick Canada and Maine USA, you'll see the term Acadia used often. You'll see the Acadian Flag, a French Flag with a yellow star. Acadians are, in a loose definition, French Canadian.

As England was making her presense known, she forced many to be exiled from this part of Canada/USA, and forced them to live in this new USA territory called Louisiana. They kept the language of french, but over time, their accent changed, and they adapted to the way of life in the swamps and lowlands of Louisiana. Acadia became Cajun.

Cajuns were a proud people. Most having last names like Boudreaux, Dedeaux, Breaux, Naquin, D'aville, Thibidoux, etc. They were a hard working people, working the ground and trapping in the swamps. They were a simple people.

Today's cajun are proud of their peoples past. They label themselves proudly as cajuns, and choose to stay in Louisiana after all of these years. They still cook and eat the food of their ancestors past from etoufe� to alligator sausage. There are cajuns also scattered throughout the USA, particularly in South Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, and parts of California.

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Local Customs: Beads

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Updated by ClarkRB

on Oct 8, 2006

Mardi Gras. The fleshy time of year in New Orleans where you are guaranteed some boobie shots along Bourbon Street should you have enough beads. Beads are part of a Mardi Gras tradition in New Orleans and other cities in the south.

Want to see some boobs? Want to see more than boobs? Have the good beads. Don't get those flimsy beads. Get those good, original ones. Yell out those familiar chants "Show your T!ts" and you'll be treated (or scared away, depending on the subject. Then you have to toss these beads to the subject.

You'll find bead shops throughout New Orleans. from the Riverwalk, to Canal Street, to Bourbon Street, and even the Mardi Gras outlet stores in nearby cities...I'm sure you'll find plenty. Most are cheap...but the REAL good ones are gonna cost ya.

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Local Customs: Stilted Houses with Names

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Updated by ClarkRB

on Oct 8, 2006

Ain't that America?

This is not particular towards just Louisiana, but is also found along many parts of the American Gulf coast and Atlantic Ocean, primarily in areas prone to storm surge. Along the coasts I�ve just mentioned, summer homes are available for rental. The original owner of the house names the place, and creates a logo for it. The one here is in Grand Isle, Louisiana, and the name of it is �Full House� as in a winning hand during a game of poker. I picked this one to feature in particular because of the song �Pink Houses� by John Cougar Mellancamp; it is a song about living in America and vacationing down by the Gulf of Mexico.

The houses are also on stilts, since Hurricanes can ravage these areas. Although not fool-proof, it does give the house an extra edge to survive should the storm surge get high. Katey and I made another observation worth noting. It seemed like the nicer houses were on higher stilts. We wondered if the height of the stilts is proportionate to the status of the owner. "The higher the house; the higher class."

Ironically, many of these houses are gone now. Hurricane Katrina's storm surge was a little too much.

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Local Customs: Bayou Bridges

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Updated by ClarkRB

on Oct 8, 2006

Bridge on LA-1

If you travel through Southern Louisiana, there is no escaping these. Many bridges that crossed the bayous allowed those who have shrimp boats to cross through. There were many types of bridges used, mainly the drawbridge and the crank bridge.

Most of the time, the waters below will not have a boat needing to cross. Should a boat need to cross, you�ll be stopped by a series of lights. Obey the lights � continuing on will create a havoc for you and your family as your new home would be at the bottom of the Lafourche bayou.

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Local Customs: Krewes and Krewe Coins

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Updated by ClarkRB

on Oct 8, 2006

Some Krewe Coins in Louisiana