A version in Cajun dialect of the famous poem "The Night Before Christmas," set in a Louisiana bayou.

Around the world Santa Claus has many names. But in a deep, swampy bayou of Louisiana, he's known as Papa Noël. In such a hot and humid place, there can be no sleds or reindeer, so Papa Noël rides the river in a boat that's pulled by eight alligators, with a snowy white one named Nicollette in the lead. On this particular Christmas Eve, it's so foggy on the river that even Nicollette's magical glowing-green eyes may not be enough to guide Papa Noël. The alligators are tired, grumpy and bruised from banging into cypress trees, and Papa is desperate to get all the gifts to the little children. Well, "quicker than a snake shimmies down the river," the clever Cajun people come up with a solution that saves the day. A colorfully inventive Christmas tale, Papa Noël is a lesson in fast thinking, as well as a witty introduction to a part of America that's rich in folklore and legend.

Paul writes a letter home each of the twelve days he spends exploring Louisiana at Christmastime, as his cousin Rosalie shows him everything from a pelican in a cypress tree to twelve sparkly strands of Mardi Gras beads. Includes facts about Louisiana.

It’s her first Christmas with her birth family… Thanks to a bone marrow donation from her newly discovered sister, interior designer Allison Miers has just beat cancer and has been welcomed into her new family, the Bertrands of Cypress Bayou. She’s been curious about her birth family for years, and it seems they’re all trying to make amends for her mother abandoning her—even offering a trust fund if she’ll stay a year and give the town a chance. As Allison arrives in town amidst preparations for the Cypress Bayou Christmas Festival, she’s quickly overwhelmed by the drama and competition between both sides of her birth families. Local mechanic Nick Landry is the most normal person she’s met so far, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s also handsome and friendly. Just as Allison starts to wonder if she’s finally found a new home, family, and a man to love, she discovers that Nick—just like both sides of her family—has been keeping his own secrets. Family is all Allison has ever wanted, but should she listen to her head or her heart this unforgettable Christmas?

She’ll help him find a kidnapped victim He’ll keep her alive in the process Mona Avery is determined to investigate Dillon Reed’s high-profile missing person case in the Louisiana bayou. Even if stubborn Detective Reed insists the hotshot investigative journalist is a hindrance. For Mona, the case is personal, especially at Christmas. Working closely with the detective makes it hard to deny their attraction. But a killer wants Mona’s story silenced…and only Dillon can keep her safe… From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.

A rousing, inspiring collection of Southern Christmas stories includes contributions from Robert Olen Butler, Kelly Cherry, Kate Chopin, James Knudsen, Patty Friedmann, Katherine Ann Porter, Ruth McEnery Stuart, and many many others. (Story Collection)

The holidays in Louisiana feature a stunning array of festivities and events. Good food, music, and camaraderie abound. This volume takes readers on a statewide tour of les fêtes de Noël and provides recipes and activities for the whole family. From the lighting of the bonfire at Oak Alley Plantation to Natchitoches’s Festival of Lights, experience the living culture that the Pelican State has to offer. After a tour of the local entertainment, gather up friends and family and enjoy some of the delicious appetizers, sweet and savory breads, entrées, and desserts included in this beautifully photographed collection. Separated into geographical sections, this book takes readers on a tour of traditions and happenings in Cajun Country, Sportsman’s Paradise, the Crossroads, Plantation Country, and Greater New Orleans. Contact information is included, along with a description of each festivity. Featured are photographs of the exquisite Hanley-Gueno Neapolitan Presepio Nativity figures, crafted in the eighteenth century. More than one hundred fifty recipes cover every course for every get-together. Family-friendly crafts and activities will keep adults and children celebrating the season all winter long.