New Orleans Glossary: Essential Terms, Phrases & Traditions
From beignets to brass bands, Mardi Gras to muffulettas — New Orleans has a language all its own. This glossary covers the essential terms, foods, traditions, and cultural touchstones every visitor should know.
A
Above-Ground Cemeteries ("Cities of the Dead")
New Orleans' cemeteries are famous for their above-ground tombs, earning the nickname "Cities of the Dead." Because of the city's high water table, the dead are interred in above-ground vaults and mausoleums rather than underground. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, and Metairie Cemetery are among the most visited and architecturally significant.
Absinthe
Absinthe is a high-proof anise-flavored spirit with deep roots in New Orleans cocktail culture. The Old Absinthe House on Bourbon Street (established in 1807) is one of the oldest bars in the city, and absinthe plays a key role in the Sazerac cocktail as a glass rinse. New Orleans was one of the last American cities to serve absinthe before Prohibition.
Algiers Ferry
The Algiers Ferry is a free passenger ferry that crosses the Mississippi River between the Canal Street terminal (near the French Quarter) and Algiers Point on the West Bank. The short ride offers panoramic views of the New Orleans skyline and is one of the most affordable tourist experiences in the city.
Algiers Point
Algiers Point is a historic neighborhood on the West Bank of the Mississippi River, accessible via the free Algiers Ferry from the French Quarter. It offers sweeping skyline views of downtown New Orleans, quiet tree-lined streets, and a charming small-town feel within the city limits.
Audubon Zoo
Audubon Zoo is a world-class zoological park located within Audubon Park in New Orleans' Uptown neighborhood. Home to Louisiana-native wildlife and animals from around the globe, the zoo features lush natural habitats and is operated by the Audubon Nature Institute. It is one of the city's top family-friendly attractions.
B
Bananas Foster
Bananas Foster is a flambéed dessert created in 1951 at Brennan's Restaurant in the French Quarter. Made with bananas, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, rum, and banana liqueur, it is set ablaze tableside and served over vanilla ice cream. It remains one of the most iconic desserts in New Orleans.
Bayou
A bayou is a slow-moving waterway or marshy outlet found throughout southern Louisiana. Bayous are central to the ecology, cuisine, and cultural identity of the New Orleans region and are often explored by visitors through guided swamp tours departing just outside the city.
Beignets
Beignets are square-shaped fried pastries covered in powdered sugar, and they are one of the most iconic foods in New Orleans. Traditionally served hot alongside café au lait, beignets are most famously associated with Café du Monde in the French Quarter. The word "beignet" comes from the French word for "fritter."
Big Easy
The Big Easy is one of the most popular nicknames for New Orleans. The name reflects the city's relaxed pace of life, welcoming culture, and reputation as a place where music, food, and celebration come naturally.
Bounce Music
Bounce is a high-energy, bass-heavy hip-hop genre that originated in New Orleans in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Characterized by call-and-response chants, rapid-fire beats, and dance-driven culture, bounce is a distinctly New Orleans sound that has influenced mainstream hip-hop worldwide.
Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street is a world-famous street in the heart of the French Quarter, known for its vibrant nightlife, live music, bars, and festive atmosphere. It is one of the most visited streets in the United States and serves as a central hub during Mardi Gras and other New Orleans celebrations.
Brass Band
A brass band in New Orleans typically features trumpets, trombones, tubas, and drums playing a distinctive style that blends jazz, funk, hip-hop, and traditional marching band music. Brass bands are essential to second lines, jazz funerals, and the city's street music culture. Notable groups include Rebirth Brass Band and Hot 8 Brass Band.
Bywater
The Bywater is an artsy, residential neighborhood downriver from the Marigny, known for its colorful shotgun houses, independent galleries, hip restaurants, and the popular Crescent Park along the Mississippi River. It has become one of New Orleans' most dynamic neighborhoods for food, art, and culture.
C
Caesars Superdome
The Caesars Superdome is a landmark multi-purpose stadium in downtown New Orleans and the home of the NFL's New Orleans Saints. One of the largest fixed-dome structures in the world, it has hosted multiple Super Bowls, Sugar Bowls, Final Fours, and major concerts.
Café du Monde
Café du Monde is a historic open-air coffee stand in the French Quarter, operating since 1862. Famous worldwide for its beignets and chicory coffee, it sits near Jackson Square and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week (closed only on Christmas Day). It is one of the most visited restaurants in New Orleans.
Cajun Cuisine
Cajun cuisine is a bold, rustic style of cooking rooted in the traditions of the Acadians — French-speaking settlers who migrated to Louisiana. It is characterized by hearty one-pot dishes, generous seasoning, and the "holy trinity" of onions, celery, and bell pepper. Common Cajun dishes include gumbo, boudin, and crawfish boils.
Carnival
Carnival is the extended celebration season that begins on Twelfth Night (January 6, or Epiphany) and ends on Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras Day). In New Orleans, Carnival season features weeks of parades, masked balls, king cake parties, and krewe celebrations that build in intensity as Fat Tuesday approaches.
Celebration in the Oaks
Celebration in the Oaks is an annual holiday light display held in City Park during November and December. Millions of lights adorn the park's centuries-old live oak trees and gardens, making it one of the most popular holiday traditions in New Orleans and the Gulf South.
Central Business District (CBD)
The Central Business District (CBD) is the commercial heart of downtown New Orleans, home to many of the city's major hotels, the Caesars Superdome, Smoothie King Center, and convention facilities. It borders the French Quarter and is connected to Uptown by the St. Charles streetcar line.
Chicory Coffee
Chicory coffee is coffee blended with roasted chicory root, creating a slightly bitter, earthy flavor that has been a New Orleans tradition since the Civil War era when chicory was used to stretch scarce coffee supplies. Today, chicory coffee is most famously served at Café du Monde alongside beignets.
City Park
City Park is one of the oldest and largest urban parks in the United States, spanning 1,300 acres in the heart of New Orleans. The park features centuries-old live oak trees, the New Orleans Museum of Art, Storyland, botanical gardens, and Celebration in the Oaks during the holiday season.
Congo Square
Congo Square is a historic gathering place within Louis Armstrong Park in the Tremé neighborhood. In the 18th and 19th centuries, enslaved Africans and free people of color congregated here on Sundays to drum, dance, and trade — making it one of the most important birthplaces of jazz and African American musical culture in the United States.
COOLinary New Orleans
COOLinary New Orleans is a city-wide restaurant promotion held each summer, offering specially priced multi-course menus at top restaurants throughout New Orleans. It provides visitors and locals an affordable way to experience the city's world-class dining scene during the warmer months.
Craft Cocktails
New Orleans is widely regarded as the birthplace of the American cocktail. The city's cocktail heritage dates back to the early 1800s and includes classics like the Sazerac, Ramos Gin Fizz, and Hurricane. Today, New Orleans remains one of the top cocktail destinations in the world, blending historic recipes with innovative mixology.
Crawfish
Crawfish (also called crayfish or "mudbugs") are small freshwater crustaceans that are a cornerstone of Louisiana cuisine. Crawfish season typically runs from late January through June, with crawfish boils — large communal feasts featuring crawfish seasoned with Cajun spices, corn, and potatoes — being a beloved springtime tradition in New Orleans.
Creole Cuisine
Creole cuisine is a refined culinary tradition born in New Orleans that blends French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and Italian influences. Distinguished from Cajun cooking by its use of richer sauces, tomatoes, and more complex preparations, Creole cuisine reflects the city's multicultural heritage. Signature dishes include shrimp Creole, crawfish bisque, and étouffée.
Crescent City
Crescent City is a historic nickname for New Orleans, derived from the distinctive crescent-shaped bend of the Mississippi River that curves around the city's original settlement. The name has been in common use since the early 19th century.
Crescent Park
Crescent Park is a 1.4-mile linear park along the Mississippi River in the Bywater and Marigny neighborhoods. Featuring a dramatic rustic steel pedestrian bridge, walking paths, river overlooks, and green spaces, it offers some of the best views of the New Orleans skyline and the Mississippi River.
Culture-bearers
Culture-bearers are the individuals who preserve and transmit New Orleans' living traditions from generation to generation. They include jazz musicians, Mardi Gras Indians, brass band players, Creole and Cajun chefs, Social Aid & Pleasure Club members, and artists whose work keeps the city's heritage alive.
D
Doubloon
A doubloon is a commemorative aluminum coin thrown from Mardi Gras parade floats to spectators. Each krewe mints its own unique doubloons featuring the year's parade theme, and they are among the most collectible of Mardi Gras throws.
Dressed
In New Orleans, ordering a sandwich "dressed" means it comes with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayonnaise. The term is most commonly used when ordering po-boys and is a standard part of the local dining vocabulary.
E
Essence Festival
Essence Festival (officially the ESSENCE Festival of Culture) is one of the largest annual celebrations of African American culture, music, and empowerment in the United States. Held each July 4th weekend in New Orleans at the Caesars Superdome and Convention Center, it features top musical performers, keynote speakers, and community experiences.
Étouffée
Étouffée (pronounced AY-too-fay) is a classic Louisiana dish meaning "smothered" in French. It features crawfish or shrimp cooked in a rich, buttery roux-based sauce with the holy trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper, served over steamed rice. It is one of the most beloved dishes in New Orleans' culinary tradition.
F
Fat Tuesday
Fat Tuesday is the English translation of "Mardi Gras" and refers to the final day of Carnival season, the day before Ash Wednesday. In New Orleans, Fat Tuesday is a city holiday marked by parades from dawn to dusk, elaborate costumes, masking traditions, and citywide celebration. The date changes each year based on the Christian liturgical calendar.
Festivals
New Orleans hosts more festivals than almost any other American city, with events celebrating music, food, art, and culture happening nearly every weekend year-round. Major festivals include Jazz Fest, Essence Festival, French Quarter Festival, and Voodoo Fest, alongside dozens of neighborhood and cultural celebrations.
Flambeaux
Flambeaux (pronounced flam-BOH) are torch-carrying marchers who light the way during nighttime Mardi Gras parades. The tradition dates back to before electric streetlights, when enslaved people and free men of color carried flaming torches to illuminate the route. Today, flambeaux carriers dance and spin their torches for tips.
French Quarter
The French Quarter (also called the Vieux Carré) is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, established in 1718. It is the city's most visited destination, known for its iconic wrought-iron balconies, historic architecture, live music, world-class restaurants, and landmarks including Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and Bourbon Street.
French Quarter Festival
French Quarter Festival is the largest free music festival in the American South, held each spring throughout the French Quarter. The multi-day event showcases hundreds of local New Orleans musicians across dozens of stages, along with food from the city's top restaurants.
Frenchmen Street
Frenchmen Street is a live-music corridor in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, just outside the French Quarter. Considered the locals' alternative to Bourbon Street, Frenchmen is famous for its intimate jazz clubs, brass bands, and nightly performances across a wide range of musical genres.
G
Garden District
The Garden District is a historic Uptown neighborhood renowned for its grand antebellum mansions, lush gardens, and oak-lined streets. Developed in the mid-1800s by wealthy American settlers, it is one of the best-preserved collections of historic homes in the United States and a popular destination for walking tours.
Go-cup
A go-cup is a plastic cup used to carry alcoholic beverages in public — something uniquely permitted in New Orleans thanks to the city's relaxed open-container laws. Bars and restaurants throughout the city will transfer your drink to a go-cup as you head out the door.
Gumbo
Gumbo is a rich, flavorful stew considered the signature dish of New Orleans. Built on a base of roux and the "holy trinity" of onion, celery, and bell pepper, gumbo typically includes a combination of seafood, sausage, or chicken and is served over steamed rice. It reflects the African, French, and Native American culinary roots of the region.
H
Holy Trinity (Cooking)
The holy trinity in Louisiana cooking refers to the combination of onion, celery, and bell pepper — the aromatic base used in virtually every Cajun and Creole dish. It is the Louisiana equivalent of the French mirepoix and serves as the foundation for gumbo, étouffée, jambalaya, and most other local specialties.
Hospitality
Hospitality is one of the defining characteristics of New Orleans culture. The city's warmth, friendliness, and tradition of treating every visitor as a welcomed guest are rooted in its multicultural heritage and make it one of the most inviting destinations in the world.
Hurricane (cocktail)
The Hurricane is a sweet, rum-based cocktail invented at Pat O'Brien's Bar in the French Quarter during the 1940s. Traditionally served in a distinctive hurricane-lamp-shaped glass, it is one of the most ordered drinks in New Orleans and a signature part of the city's cocktail heritage.
J
Jackson Square
Jackson Square is a historic public square in the heart of the French Quarter, anchored by St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, and the Presbytere. Originally known as the Place d'Armes, it serves as a gathering place for artists, street performers, musicians, and visitors and is one of the most photographed locations in New Orleans.
Jambalaya
Jambalaya is a one-pot rice dish that is one of Louisiana's most famous foods. Combining rice with a mix of meat (typically andouille sausage, chicken, or shrimp), vegetables, and bold seasonings, jambalaya reflects both Spanish paella traditions and West African rice dishes. Creole-style jambalaya includes tomatoes; Cajun-style does not.
Jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in New Orleans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, blending African rhythms, blues, ragtime, and brass band traditions. New Orleans is recognized globally as the birthplace of jazz, and live performances can be found throughout the city every night of the week.
Jazz & Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest)
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest) is one of the most celebrated music festivals in the world, held annually over two weekends at the Fair Grounds Race Course. Jazz Fest features hundreds of performances spanning jazz, blues, gospel, R&B, rock, and more, alongside Louisiana food vendors and artisan crafts.
Jazz Funeral
A jazz funeral is a traditional New Orleans funeral procession that combines mourning with celebration. A brass band leads the procession, playing solemn hymns en route to the burial, then transitioning to upbeat, joyous music afterward — a tradition reflecting the city's belief in celebrating a life well lived.
K
King Cake
King cake is a ring-shaped pastry decorated in purple, green, and gold — the official colors of Mardi Gras — that is eaten throughout Carnival season (from Twelfth Night through Fat Tuesday). A small plastic baby is traditionally hidden inside, and whoever finds it is tasked with hosting the next king cake party or bringing the next cake.
Krewe
A krewe is a social organization that plans and stages parades, balls, and festivities during Mardi Gras and other New Orleans celebrations. Major krewes include Rex, Zulu, Endymion, Bacchus, and Muses, each known for their distinctive parade themes, floats, and throws.
L
Lagniappe
Lagniappe (pronounced LAN-yap) is a Louisiana term meaning "a little something extra." It can refer to a bonus, an unexpected gift, or a generous gesture — and it captures the spirit of New Orleans hospitality where something extra is always given freely.
Laissez les bons temps rouler
"Laissez les bons temps rouler" (pronounced LAY-say lay bon ton ROO-lay) is a Cajun French expression meaning "Let the good times roll." It is the unofficial motto of New Orleans and embodies the city's celebratory, life-affirming spirit.
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong (1901–1971) was a legendary jazz musician born in New Orleans whose trumpet playing and distinctive voice transformed American music worldwide. His legacy is honored throughout the city, including Louis Armstrong Park in Tremé and the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
Louis Armstrong Park
Louis Armstrong Park is a 32-acre public park at the edge of the French Quarter in the Tremé neighborhood, named for New Orleans' most famous musical son. The park is home to Congo Square, the Mahalia Jackson Theater, and sculptures honoring the city's musical heritage.
M
Magazine Street
Magazine Street is a six-mile corridor stretching from the Central Business District through the Garden District and Uptown, known for an eclectic mix of locally owned shops, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and cafés. It is one of New Orleans' premier shopping and dining streets.
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday") is New Orleans' most famous celebration, marking the final day of Carnival season before the Christian observance of Lent. Festivities include elaborate parades with masked riders and floats, costumed revelry, krewe balls, king cake, and the iconic throwing of beads, doubloons, and trinkets. Carnival season begins on Twelfth Night (January 6) and builds to its climax on Fat Tuesday.
Mardi Gras Indians
Mardi Gras Indians are African American cultural groups in New Orleans who create spectacular hand-sewn, beaded suits and "mask" (parade) on Mardi Gras Day and Super Sunday. The tradition dates back over a century and honors the connection between Black and Native American communities in New Orleans. Each tribe is led by a Big Chief.
Marigny (Faubourg Marigny)
The Faubourg Marigny (often just called the Marigny) is a vibrant neighborhood adjacent to the French Quarter, best known as the home of Frenchmen Street and its world-renowned live music scene. The Marigny features colorful Creole cottages, local restaurants, and a walkable, bohemian atmosphere.
Marie Laveau
Marie Laveau (c. 1801–1881) was a free woman of color known as the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. A powerful spiritual practitioner, herbalist, and community leader, her legend permeates the city's folklore, tourism, and cultural identity. Her alleged burial site at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is one of the most visited graves in the United States.
Mid-City
Mid-City is a diverse residential neighborhood located between the French Quarter and City Park. It is home to Bayou St. John, a thriving restaurant scene, and the Fair Grounds Race Course (where Jazz Fest is held). Mid-City offers an authentic, neighborhood-feel experience of New Orleans away from the tourist core.
Mighty Mississippi
The Mighty Mississippi refers to the Mississippi River, the largest river system in North America, which has shaped New Orleans' economy, geography, and culture since the city's founding. Visitors can experience the river via riverboat cruises, the Algiers Ferry, and the scenic Moonwalk promenade along the French Quarter riverfront.
Muffuletta
A muffuletta is a signature New Orleans sandwich made with Italian cold cuts, provolone cheese, and a tangy olive salad, all layered on a round, sesame-seeded Sicilian bread. Originating at Central Grocery in the French Quarter, the muffuletta is one of the city's most beloved culinary traditions.
N
National WWII Museum
The National WWII Museum is a world-class museum in New Orleans' Warehouse District dedicated to telling the story of the American experience in World War II. Ranked among the top museums in the United States, it features immersive exhibits, oral histories, and the Beyond All Boundaries 4D experience narrated by Tom Hanks.
Neutral Ground
Neutral ground is the New Orleans term for what most Americans call a "median" — the grassy or paved strip dividing a wide boulevard. The term dates to the early 1800s and is unique to New Orleans. During Mardi Gras parades, the neutral ground is a prime gathering spot for spectators.
New Orleans
New Orleans is a culturally rich city in southeastern Louisiana known worldwide for jazz music, Creole and Cajun cuisine, Mardi Gras, historic architecture, and an unmatched festive spirit. Founded in 1718, it blends French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and American traditions into a culture found nowhere else on Earth.
New Orleans & Company
New Orleans & Company is the official destination sales and marketing organization for the city of New Orleans. It drives tourism, conventions, and events that support the city's hospitality industry and serves as the operator of NewOrleans.com.
New Orleans School of Cooking
The New Orleans School of Cooking is a popular visitor attraction in the French Quarter where guests learn to prepare authentic Creole and Cajun dishes in a fun, hands-on classroom setting. Classes cover staples like gumbo, jambalaya, and pralines.
NOLA
NOLA is a widely used abbreviation for New Orleans, Louisiana. Originally a shorthand in addresses and headlines, NOLA has become a popular colloquial name for the city, used by locals and visitors alike in casual conversation, social media, and branding.
P
Pimm's Cup
The Pimm's Cup is a refreshing gin-based cocktail that has become synonymous with Napoleon House, one of the French Quarter's oldest bars. Made with Pimm's No. 1, lemonade, and a cucumber garnish, it is the quintessential warm-weather drink in New Orleans.
Po-boys
A po-boy is a traditional New Orleans sandwich served on crispy French bread. Po-boys can be filled with fried shrimp, oysters, roast beef, catfish, or other fillings and are typically ordered "dressed" (with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayonnaise). The name originated in the 1920s when free sandwiches were given to striking streetcar workers — "poor boys."
Pralines
Pralines (pronounced PRAH-leens in New Orleans) are a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth confection made from sugar, cream, butter, and pecans. A staple of the city's culinary traditions, they are sold in candy shops throughout the French Quarter and are a popular souvenir to bring home.
Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall is an intimate music venue on St. Peter Street in the French Quarter, dedicated to preserving and honoring traditional New Orleans jazz since 1961. Nightly performances feature the world-renowned Preservation Hall Jazz Band and visiting musicians in a deliberately stripped-down, no-frills setting.
R
Ramos Gin Fizz
The Ramos Gin Fizz is a classic New Orleans cocktail invented in 1888 by bartender Henry C. Ramos. Made with gin, lemon and lime juice, egg white, cream, sugar, orange flower water, and soda water, it is shaken vigorously until frothy. It is one of the most celebrated cocktails in American bartending history.
Red Beans and Rice
Red beans and rice is a Monday-night staple in New Orleans homes and restaurants. The dish — slow-simmered red kidney beans cooked with the "holy trinity," seasoned with smoked sausage or ham, and served over rice — dates to a time when Monday was washday and cooks needed a meal that could simmer unattended.
Roux
A roux is a cooked mixture of flour and fat (traditionally butter or oil) used as a thickening base in many Louisiana dishes, most notably gumbo. In New Orleans cooking, a roux is typically cooked slowly to a dark brown color, which gives dishes their characteristic deep, nutty flavor. Mastering the roux is considered one of the foundations of Cajun and Creole cooking.
Royal Street
Royal Street is one of the most charming streets in the French Quarter, known for its art galleries, antique shops, and street musicians. In contrast to the party atmosphere of nearby Bourbon Street, Royal Street offers a more refined experience with historic architecture and world-class shopping.
S
Sazerac
The Sazerac is the official cocktail of the city of New Orleans and one of the oldest known American cocktails. Made with rye whiskey (or cognac), Peychaud's Bitters, a sugar cube, and an absinthe rinse, the Sazerac originated in the mid-1800s at a French Quarter apothecary and embodies the city's cocktail heritage.
Second Line
A second line is a uniquely New Orleans parade tradition in which a "main line" (typically a brass band and the event's organizers) leads the way, followed by the "second line" — anyone who joins in to dance, wave handkerchiefs, and celebrate. Second lines occur at weddings, funerals, festivals, and weekly Sunday parades organized by Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs.
Shotgun House
A shotgun house is a narrow, rectangular residential style iconic to New Orleans, characterized by rooms arranged one behind another in a single line with no hallway. The name reportedly comes from the idea that a bullet fired through the front door could pass through every room and exit the back. Shotgun houses define the architectural character of many New Orleans neighborhoods.
Snowball (Sno-ball)
A New Orleans sno-ball is a beloved warm-weather treat made with finely shaved (not crushed) ice and drenched in flavored syrup. Unlike a snow cone, the ice in a sno-ball is feathery soft. Popular stands throughout the city serve them with dozens of syrup flavors, often topped with condensed milk or "stuffed" with ice cream.
St. Charles Avenue
St. Charles Avenue is one of the most iconic streets in New Orleans, stretching from the Central Business District through the Garden District and Uptown. It is famous for its canopy of live oak trees, historic mansions, and the St. Charles streetcar line — one of the oldest continuously operating street railway systems in the world.
St. Louis Cathedral
St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic cathedral in the United States, overlooking Jackson Square in the heart of the French Quarter. Originally constructed in 1727 and rebuilt in 1850, its triple spires are among the most recognized landmarks in New Orleans.
Streetcar
New Orleans' streetcars are a historic and functional mode of public transportation that date back to 1835. The St. Charles line is one of the oldest continuously operating street railway systems in the world. Additional lines run along Canal Street, the Riverfront, and Rampart Street/Loyola Avenue, connecting visitors to key neighborhoods and attractions.
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is one of the oldest and most prestigious college football bowl games in America, held annually at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. First played in 1935, it draws tens of thousands of visitors and is a major event on the city's sports and tourism calendar.
T
Throws
Throws are the trinkets and souvenirs tossed from Mardi Gras floats to parade-goers. The most common throws include beads, doubloons, stuffed animals, cups, and toys. Prized specialty throws include hand-decorated shoes from the Krewe of Muses and hand-painted coconuts from the Krewe of Zulu.
Tremé
Tremé (also spelled Treme) is one of the oldest African American neighborhoods in the United States, located just north of the French Quarter. It is the cultural cradle of jazz, brass band music, and second line traditions, and home to historic landmarks including Congo Square, St. Augustine Church, and the Backstreet Cultural Museum.
U
UNESCO Creative City for Music
In 2015, UNESCO designated New Orleans as a Creative City of Music, recognizing the city's extraordinary global impact on musical innovation. From jazz and blues to bounce, brass band, and R&B, New Orleans has produced more original musical genres per capita than any city in the world.
V
Voodoo (New Orleans Voodoo)
New Orleans Voodoo is a spiritual tradition that blends West African Vodun, Haitian Vodou, and French Catholic practices into a belief system unique to the city. Rooted in the experiences of enslaved Africans, Voodoo is a living spiritual practice — not merely folklore — and is an important part of New Orleans' cultural identity.
Voodoo Fest (Voodoo Music + Arts Experience)
Voodoo Fest is a major multi-day music festival held each fall in City Park, featuring rock, hip-hop, electronic, and alternative music acts alongside art installations. Named for the city's Voodoo heritage, it is one of the premier fall festivals in the American South.
W
Warehouse District (Arts District)
The Warehouse District (also known as the Arts District) is a neighborhood in downtown New Orleans known for converted warehouse loft spaces, contemporary art galleries, upscale restaurants, and major cultural institutions including the National WWII Museum and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.
Where y'at?
"Where y'at?" is a quintessential New Orleans greeting meaning "How are you?" or "What's going on?" It is closely associated with the Yat dialect — a distinctive New Orleans accent influenced by Irish, German, Italian, and French immigrants — and is a marker of local identity.
Who Dat
"Who Dat" is a rallying chant associated with the New Orleans Saints NFL football team, typically expressed as "Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints!" The phrase has become a symbol of civic pride and community unity that extends well beyond game day.
Z
Zydeco
Zydeco is an energetic, accordion-driven music genre that originated in the Creole communities of rural southwestern Louisiana. Blending blues, R&B, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms, zydeco is a regular feature of New Orleans festivals and dance halls and is closely associated with Louisiana's French-speaking culture.
Social Aid & Pleasure Club
Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs are community organizations with roots in the African American neighborhoods of New Orleans, originally formed in the 19th century to provide mutual aid, insurance, and social support. Today, they are best known for sponsoring the weekly Sunday second line parades that are a cornerstone of New Orleans culture.
Second Line Traditions →