Sunday, December 30, 2007

A Boudreaux-esque Christmas






There are probably ten different events in Louisiana that have a bonfire as their focal point during the holiday season, but nothing comes close to the Christmas Eve Bonfires on the Levee.
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On Christmas Eve, thousands of spectators converge along a stretch of River Road between Lutcher, LA and Gramercy, LA (located between Baton Rouge and N'Awlins) to enjoy the spectacle of dozens of burning bonfires set against the backdrop of the Mississippi River. Although there's no concrete theory about the origins of this tradition, the favorite one bandied about is that the fires help show Santa the way to homes in this area. Viewed from the air, this is truly a unique spectacle, as it does resemble a Santa Airport runway of sorts.
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These bonfires are amazing as a catalyst for the creation of a fun, communal atmosphere for the Holidays. My fav part is the utilization of the fires to both keep warm and (of course) the shooting of fireworks !!

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