Bonfires on the Levees
The early Cajun settlers in southern Louisiana brought many traditions that still stand today. One of them is a special Christmas Eve celebration that included bonfires lit along the levees of the Mississippi River north and west of New Orleans.
The purpose of Christmas Eve bonfires is to show the Cajun Santa Claus – known locally as Papa Noel – where to fly and land as he soars across southern Louisiana. Historically, bonfires were also set blazing to lead the way to Midnight Mass at local Catholic churches.
Bonfires for this celebration originally were created from a pyramid of long logs, making the shape of a cone. Often they were 20 feet tall and could be seen from quite a distance. In modern times, revelers have gotten creative, erecting bonfires in the shape of things we know such as Cajun cabins or pickup trucks.
When night falls on Christmas Eve, the structures are set on fire, creating a lovely, vibrant glow all along the river, lighting up the night sky in a way that will surely catch the eye of Papa Noel and his team of reindeer. Some bonfire organizers provide bowls of gumbo to those who come to watch the spectacle. It’s not uncommon to witness colorful fireworks set off within the bonfire flames.
The purpose of Christmas Eve bonfires is to show the Cajun Santa Claus – known locally as Papa Noel – where to fly and land as he soars across southern Louisiana. Historically, bonfires were also set blazing to lead the way to Midnight Mass at local Catholic churches.
Bonfires for this celebration originally were created from a pyramid of long logs, making the shape of a cone. Often they were 20 feet tall and could be seen from quite a distance. In modern times, revelers have gotten creative, erecting bonfires in the shape of things we know such as Cajun cabins or pickup trucks.
When night falls on Christmas Eve, the structures are set on fire, creating a lovely, vibrant glow all along the river, lighting up the night sky in a way that will surely catch the eye of Papa Noel and his team of reindeer. Some bonfire organizers provide bowls of gumbo to those who come to watch the spectacle. It’s not uncommon to witness colorful fireworks set off within the bonfire flames.