Culture of New Orleans

People and culture of New Orleans, Louisiana, US

The culture of New Orleans is unique among, and distinct from, that of other cities in the United States, including other Southern cities. New Orleans has been called the "northernmost Caribbean city" and "perhaps the most hedonistic city in the United States". Over the years, New Orleans has had a dominant influence on American and global culture. In a locale once inhabited by Choctaw, Houma, and other native tribes, prominent cultural influences date to the French and Spanish colonial periods and the introduction of enslaved Africans in the 18th century.

New Orleans has always been a significant center for music with its intertwined European, Latin American, and African American cultures. It was the site of the first opera house in the United States. The city engendered jazz with its brass bands. Decades later it was home to a distinctive brand of rhythm and blues that contributed greatly to the growth of rock and roll. In addition, the nearby countryside is the home of Creole music, Zydeco music, Jazz, and Delta blues.

New Orleans has consistently experienced a high homicide rate during the previous two to three decades. Its average annual per capita homicide rate (59 per 100,000) ranks highest of large cities in the country from 1990 to 2010 based on Bureau Of Justice Statistics from FBI Uniform Crime Reports. In 1994, 421 people were killed (85.8 per 100,000 people), a homicide rate which has not been matched by any major city to date. The homicide rate rose and fell year to year throughout the late 1990s, but the overall trend from 1994 to 1999 was a steady reduction in homicides. Beginning in 2000, the homicide rate again increased. New Orleans had the highest homicide rate of any major American city in 2000 (42.1 per 100,000 people), 2001 (44.0 per 100,000), 2002 (53.1 per 100,000), 2003 (57.7 per 100,000) and 2004 (56.0 per 100,000). In 2005, there were 202 murders after 8 months a rate of 47 per 100,000, which was still a higher rate than any other major city's 12 month rate, but was not official because there was still 1 month left until the end of 3rd quarter crime data was to be released. In 2006, (70 per 100,000), 2007 (81 per 100,000), 2008 (64 per 100,000), 2009 (52 per 100,000), 2010 (51 per 100,000) and 2011 (58 per 100,000) it was more of the same as the previous years with New Orleans posting the highest per capta homicide rate of any major American city, or 12 years in a row annually until 2012, when the rate (53 per 100,000) was the 2nd highest among major U. S. cities. In 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011 New Orleans' per capita homicide rate led cities with populations of 100,000 or more residents, which made it the nation's murder capital of the above mentioned years with annual per capita homicide rates that were at least ten times the U. S. average in each of those years, according to Bureau of Justice Statistics from FBI Uniform Crime Reports, NOLA. com, and criminologist Dr. Peter Scharf. After Hurricane Katrina (2005), news media attention focused on the reduced violent crime rate following the exodus of many New Orleanians. That trend began to reverse itself as people returned to the city, although calculating the homicide rate remained difficult when no authoritative source could cite a total population figure. In 2003, most victims in New Orleans were killed within three months of their last arrest. The homicide rate for the New Orleans metropolitan statistical area, which includes the suburbs, was 24.4 per 100,000 in 2002.

Greater New Orleans has many visitor attractions, including Uptown's St. Charles Avenue, home of Tulane University, Loyola University, many stately 19th century mansions, and the St. Charles Streetcar Line. The French Quarter (known locally as "the Quarters"), which dates from the French and Spanish eras, is probably the main tourist destination. The neighborhood contains many hotels, restaurants, and bars, most notably around Bourbon Street. Other attractions in the quarter include Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the French Market (including the Café du Monde, famous for café au lait and beignets), and Preservation Hall. Also located near the French Quarter is the old New Orleans Mint, formerly a branch of the United States Mint (and the only mint of the Confederacy), which now operates as a museum. The National WWII Museum is relatively new, having opened in 2000 as the National D Day Museum. The Natchez is an authentic steamboat with a calliope, which cruises the Mississippi River twice daily. There are several locations of the Louisiana State Museum in the city, as well as the National Park Service's Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, a multi site development. The city has a number of additional historical museums and house museums, such as the Historic New Orleans Collection, the Hermann Grima House, Gallier House, a pharmacy museum, and the nation's second largest (after Richmond, Virginia) Confederate museum, Confederate Memorial Hall Museum. Art museums in the city include the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) in City Park and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. Audubon Park and the Audubon Zoo are also located in the city of New Orleans, as is the Aquarium of the Americas. New Orleans is noted for its historic cemeteries. Two of the oldest and largest cemeteries are Saint Louis Cemetery and Metairie Cemetery. Significant gardens include Longue Vue House and Gardens and the New Orleans Botanical Garden.

Greater New Orleans is home to numerous annual celebrations, including Mardi Gras, New Year's Eve celebrations, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. New Orleans' most famous celebration is its Carnival Season. The Carnival season is often known (especially by out of towners) by the name of the last and biggest day, Mardi Gras (literally, "Fat Tuesday"), held just before the beginning of the Catholic liturgical season of Lent. Mardi Gras celebrations include parades and floats; participants toss strings of cheap colorful beads and doubloons to the crowds. The Mardi Gras season is kicked off with the only parade allowed through the French Quarter (Vieux Carré, translated Old Square), a walking parade aptly named Krewe du Vieux. The largest of the city's many musical festivals is the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Commonly referred to simply as, "Jazz Fest", it is one of the largest music festivals in the nation, and features crowds coming from all over the world to experience music, food, arts, and crafts. Despite the name, it features not only jazz but a large variety of music, including both native Louisiana music and nationally known popular music artists. The Essence Music Festival is another notable annual musical festival in the city. Southern Decadence is a New Orleans style celebration of the gay community. It is a six day event that attracts over 160,000 locals and visitors. The annual event began in 1972 to empower the gay community of South Louisiana and has grown to be one of the largest gay events in the nation. Hexfest is an annual gathering of spiritual workers from all over the world and is held in the first or second week of August each year in the French Quarter. This three day event features authors, and various community elders sharing knowledge and workshops. Voodoo Fest, not to be confused with the musical Voodoo Festival, is an annual event held every October 31 in the French Quarter by Voodoo Authentica. It features rituals, drumming and workshops to help educate people on voodoo. Fèt Gede is an annual Festival of the Dead. It occurs on November 1 and is celebrated throughout the city. The Island of Salvation Botanica hosts an annual ritual honoring this Haitian Day of the Dead. The Dia de Los Muertos procession is hosted by Krewe de Mayahuel every November 2. It honors the Mexican Day of the Dead. The procession begins in the Bywater, New Orleans neighborhood and ends at St. Roch Cemetery.

New Orleans Square, a replica of the French Quarter, was built in Disneyland in 1966, with buildings and landscaping meant to evoke 19th century New Orleans. When it opened, Walt Disney had then New Orleans mayor Victor H. Schiro made honorary mayor of New Orleans Square. Schiro, in turn, made Disney an honorary citizen of the real New Orleans.

New Orleans is world famous for its food. The indigenous cuisine is distinctive and influential. From centuries of amalgamation of local Creole, haute Creole, Cajun, and New Orleans French cuisines, New Orleans food has developed. Local ingredients combined with French, Spanish, Italian, African, Native American, and a hint of Cuban food traditions combine to produce a truly unique and easily recognizable Louisiana flavor. Unique specialties include beignets, square shaped fried pastries that could be called "French doughnuts" (served with coffee and chicory, known as café au lait); po' boy and Italian muffuletta sandwiches; Gulf oysters on the half shell, boiled crawfish, and other seafood; étouffée, jambalaya, gumbo, and other Creole dishes; and the Monday favorite of red beans and rice (Louis Armstrong often signed his letters, "Red beans and ricely yours"). New Orleans residents enjoy some of the best restaurants in the United States that cater specifically to locals, and visitors are encouraged to try the local establishments ) recommended by their hosts.