Louisiana Leaders

The governor of Louisiana is Bobby Jindal. The Attorney General is Buddy Caldwell. The Secretary of State is Tom Schedler. The capital of Louisiana is Baton Rouge. One of the colleges is Louisiana State College.

Festivals

Louisiana is known for many festivals. The most famous festival is Mardi Gras.  On Mardi Gras there are parades all over Louisiana. Other festivals celebrated are the Nursery festival, Frog festival, Pecan festival, and the Strawberry festival. Festivals are an important part of the Louisiana culture. At some of the festivals the have Carnival rides and vendors that sale stuff. Such as the nursery festival, different nursery’s in Forest hill come and sale trees. 

Sports

Sports are very popular in Louisiana. This is why Louisiana is sometimes known as the “sportsman’s paradise.” Football is probably the most known and played sports across the state. Other sports such as baseball, soccer, softball, and basketball are also well played throughout Louisiana. In Louisiana we also have some very dedicated hunters and fishers. 

Music

 New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz. Jazz is a kind of music with strong rhythms and much syncopation, often improvised. Brass bands and piano players helped create this new sound. Jazz has spread across the planet, an ambassador for Louisiana culture. This Blues are based on black folk music, especially on the chants of the black workers on the plantations. This is also a type of music related to Louisiana.

Religion

The first religion in Louisiana was Roman Catholicism. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Protestantism was introduced to the territory. Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians were later joined by other Protestant sects such as Lutherans, who were often German immigrants. Members of the Jewish faith have come to Louisiana at various times. Some of the more recent immigrants have brought Buddhism and Islam to Louisiana.

Food

Louisiana has many different types of food. Many seasonings are used in Louisiana food. Some of the main seasonings include cayenne pepper, tony chachere's, and zatarain's. The food most identified with South Louisiana is Cajun and Creole food. The food most identified with the North is more like fried chicken and barbecue. Some examples of food in Louisiana include gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, rice and gravy.

State Painting

The official painting for Louisiana was painted in 1995. The original painting hangs in the State Capital. There is also a copy of the painting that hangs in the Governors Mansion. The painting has a lot of gold, white, and blue colors in it which are the state colors. The painting includes all of the symbols of Louisiana in it. The painting took two people 10 years to complete.

State Flag

The state flag of Louisiana displays a white pelican nurturing its young by tearing at its own breast. The tearing represents blood. At the bottom of the flag it has our motto in blue letters which is "Union, Justice, and Confidence." The pelican has been a symbol of Louisiana since colonial times. In history, 10 different flags have been flown over Louisiana.

State Reptile

The state reptile is an alligator. It was named the state alligator in 1983. Alligators construct burrows, or "alligator holes" for shelter and hibernation. In the summer alligators are sometimes found in swimming pools. Alligators are a very important part of their ecosystem.

State Dog

The Louisiana state dog is a Catahoula Leopard dog. This was named our state dog in 1979. These types of dogs were bred to find livestock on all types of terrain. They are extremely athletic and protective. They were first bred by the Native Americans.

State Bird

The Louisiana state bird is a brown pelican. This bird appears on the state flag, the state seal, and the official state painting. This is why Louisiana is sometimes called the "Pelican State." The brown pelican plunges down from the sky to the water to catch its food. The brown pelican is a very unique type of bird.

State Flower

The Louisiana State Flower is a Magnolia. It was named the state flower in the 1900's. A magnolia is a hardwood tree that grows in the southeast United States. Its Lumber can be used to make furniture. The magnolia can also be called a little gem, bull-bay, or a big-laurel.