Christmas bonfires
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File:Christmas Eve Bonfires in Lutcher.jpg
Every year along the Mississippi River levee near the town of Lutcher, Louisiana, over a hundred bonfires are built out of wood, firecrackers, and occasionally bamboo, said to have begun in the late 19th century.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-10|title=Pandemic cancels St. James Christmas Eve bonfire celebration|url=https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-mississippi-river-louisiana-christmas-277fea9d17fc7651e9e35c12ef4344fc|access-date=2021-04-06|website=AP NEWS}} This tradition has often occurred on Christmas Eve. In case of rain, it is often rescheduled to New Year's Eve.
Celebration of Papa Noel
The story around the tradition says that the bonfires were made to light a path for Papa Noel.{{Cite web|title=A Louisiana Christmas Tradition: Bonfires on the Levee|url=https://www.louisianatravel.com/blog/louisiana-christmas-tradition-bonfires-levee|access-date=2021-04-06|website=Louisiana Official Travel and Tourism Information|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=writer|first=DAVID J. MITCHELL {{!}} Staff|title=Christmas Eve bonfires in St. James canceled due to coronavirus: 'By no means an easy decision'|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_c725242a-3a70-11eb-9f34-6fa6894beb7c.html|access-date=2021-04-06|website=The Advocate|language=en}} Others have explained the bonfire tradition as being for the purpose of helping friends of the family find the inlets or slips coming off the river to the homes of those they wanted to visit on Christmas Eve.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
In 2020, the Christmas bonfires were cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
References
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Category:19th-century establishments in Louisiana
Category:Recurring events established in the 19th century
Category:Tourist attractions in St. James Parish, Louisiana
Category:Christmas events and celebrations
Category:Christmas in the United States
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