Culture of Louisiana

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The culture of Louisiana involves its music, food, religion, clothing, language, architecture, art, literature, games, and sports. Often, these elements are the basis for one of the many festivals in the state. Louisiana, while sharing many similarities to its neighbors along the

Louisiana French culture, due to the historical waves of immigration of French-speaking settlers to Louisiana. Likewise, African-American culture plays a prominent role. While New Orleans
, as the largest city, has had an outsize influence on Louisiana throughout its history, other regions both rural and urban have contributed their shared histories and identities to the culture of the state.

Religion

The first non-Native American religion in Louisiana was

Lutherans, who were often German immigrants. Louisiana remains a cultural pot with many different religions. More recent immigrants have brought Buddhism and Islam, etc. into Louisiana.[2] Also, Voodoo is often practiced in south Louisiana, especially in New Orleans.[3][4]

Arts

Music

Mardi Gras Festival New Orleans 1921.

New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz.[5] Jazz is a kind of music with strong rhythms and much syncopation, often improvised. Brass bands and piano players helped create this new sound. Louisiana blues is also a link to the past musical culture.[6]

The early Cajuns often held dance parties in their rural homes. Entire families came, and the young children were put on blanket pallets in the bedroom. They were told to go to sleep, which in French is fais-do-do. This became the name of these dance parties, and today the term fais-do-do refers to a Cajun dance.

Louisiana Creoles of South Louisiana. It is much like Cajun music; the song is sung in French and played on an accordion. An added instrument, the rub-board is used for rhythm.[7]

Country music is part of the heritage of North Louisiana. In the days before television, when people gathered for entertainment, musicians brought their instruments. Their string bands usually included a guitar, a fiddle, and a mandolin. This traditional southern country music developed into

Natchitoches Parish.[8]

Many early rock-and-roll musicians started out singing

spirituals, hymns, and popular music.[9]

More formal classical music also contributes to the musical sound of Louisiana.

Baton Rouge
.

Another variety of music that is heard commonly between the Gonzales, Baton Rouge and Hammond areas is Swamp pop.[10]

Food

The state is predominantly known for both its Cajun cuisine, Creole cuisine, and Native American cuisine.

Creole cuisine is influenced by traditional French cooking with Spanish,

African, and Indian influences.[11] Cajun cuisine is one of the most popular cuisines in the United States. People in Southern Louisiana say that others eat to live, while they live to eat.[12]

Although the food most identified with the state is the

Cajun country. People north of Alexandria
were more likely to eat fried chicken or barbecue. Fish fries featuring catfish took the place of crawfish boils. Today, boiled crawfish is served throughout the state.

Other foods popular in Louisiana include

bayous
of south Louisiana.

Famous desserts and snacks include

beignets, pralines, sweet potato pie and pecan pie
.

Festivals and carnivals

See also: List of festivals in Louisiana

Louisiana is known for many festivals such as the

Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival and Yambilee Festival
. Annual crawfish boils and crawfish cook-offs are also popular.

Sports

Sports are very popular in Louisiana.[13] American football is the most popular sport throughout the state. Other popular athletic sports include basketball and baseball. Also, recreational sports such as hunting and fishing are also popular. Because of this, the state is often called "Sportsman's Paradise" locally.[14] Since 1958, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame has honored the elite figures in state sports history. The state has many sports teams for high school, college and professional athletes.[15]

Professional

College

High school

Stadiums and arenas

References

  1. ^ "Religions - Louisiana".
  2. ^ "Religious Landscape Study". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  3. ^ "The True History and Faith Behind Voodoo". FrenchQuarter.com. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  4. ^ "Voudou - Know Louisiana". 64 Parishes. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  5. ^ "Tour | The Birthplace of Jazz: A Walking Tour Through New Orleans' Musical Past". New Orleans Historical. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  6. ^ "From Rural to Urban, From Acoustic to Amplified: the Blues in Louisiana". www.louisianafolklife.org. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  7. ^ "Zydeco". City of Opelousas. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  8. ^ Jackson, Leah. "Harris wins 2022 Louisiana State Fiddle Championship | Natchitoches Times". Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  9. ^ "Gospel Music in Louisiana". www.louisianafolklife.org. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  10. ^ Freeman, WaTeasa. "What is swamp pop? Meet its past stars and discover its Louisiana roots". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  11. The Food Timeline
    .
  12. doi:10.1111/j.1549-0831.2001.tb00065.x
    .
  13. ^ "Sports - Louisiana".
  14. ^ "Why it's called a Sportsman's Paradise".
  15. ^ "Louisiana Sports Teams".
  16. ^ "LHSAA".
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