Holiday season in New Orleans is so festive and lovely. There are tons of lights and trees and wreaths and as always … lot of music. Inside the Sheraton New Orleans even the Rodrigue Blue Dogs were decorated. I love the Blue Dog!
My favorite holiday decoration so far (maybe ever) is the Cajun Santa Claus flying through the lobby. There’s a very special children’s story by James Rice called the Cajun Night Before Christmas. The story line is familiar, except Santa arrives on the Bayou in a skiff (row boat) instead of a sleigh and he is pulled by eight alligators instead of eight reindeer.
‘Ha, Gaston! Ha, Tiboy! Ha, Pierre an’ Alcee! Gee, Ninette! Gee, Suzette! Celeste an’ Renee!’
There was a huge Christmas tree up on the Moonwalk. And low and behold … instead of a lighted star on top of the tree, there is a lighted fleur de lis.
The Chef at Intercontinental New Orleans was putting the final touches on a life-sized gingerbread house. Check out the fleur de lis cookie ornaments and the big chair inside the gingerbread house where I assume Santa will sit.
It was really cold in New Orleans (30′s and 40′s), but you can’t keep these musicians down. They were playing traditional New Orleans jazz and they were amazing.
Saturday night was the official opening of the Miracle on Fulton Street celebration. This fun celebration is sponsored by Harrah’s New Orleans and includes:
plenty of fleur de lis (of course),
wintery lights and trees,
snow … yes! snow in New Orleans,
and even two friendly reindeer!
The historic Roosevelt Hotel has just been re-opened after a major renovation after Hurricane Katrina. It is now part of the Hilton Waldorf Astoria Collection of luxury hotels.
The Roosevelt has traditionally transformed their lobby during the holiday season to a Winter Wonderland.
Teddy’s Cafe had an amazing gingerbread town complete with a real choo choo train,
sweet animals, lots of chocolates and candies … even some fleur de lis chocolates. Are you detecting a trend here?
The famous Paris Exhibition clock looks so elegant with all of the lights and poinsettias behind her.
The wrought iron balconies on the Pontabla Apartments, part of the National Historic Register, are the oldest continuously rented apartments in the United States. They were decorated with wreaths and bows. 
So festive! I love this time of the year in New Orleans.
