Santa, his boat still filled with goodie-bags, poses for pictures with children Santa's helpers toss beads to those along the bayou's edge

Santa on the Bayou

St. Bernard's "Santa on the Bayou" Christmas celebration has been held annually for eight years, with the exception of Christmas 2005. Prior to Hurricane Katrina the event comprised a boat parade, with numerous decorated fishing boats of all sizes making stops along the bayous in Yscloskey, Shell Beach, and Hopedale, together with a Christmas Party for children at Breton Sound Marina in Hopedale. In 2006, because this Christmas celebration is important to the community but it was not yet possible to gather at the marina, the event was held at Nunez Community College with the help of hundreds of volunteers and was coordinated, as usual, by Anthony A. Fernandez, Jr. Over 4,000 children and nearly 10,000 parish residents turned out. In 2007, the celebration saw similar numbers who were delighted that it was able to move back to its traditional final stop at Breton Sound Marina in Hopedale. There was not a parade as in previous year-only Santa's boat and a boatful of helpers-but the important aspect of the day was that many people had been able to return to St. Bernard for the holidays and that the marina, so important to the livelihoods of many, is open once again.

In the late morning, children and their families gathered along the bayou's edge to await the arrival of Santa and his helpers by boat. Santa made many stops along the way to distribute goodie bags to people gathered along the bayou in their neighborhoods, and the wait was considerable. Patience was rewarded by the arrival of Santa and his helpers, who tossed beads and goodies from their boats, visited with children, and eventually made their way to the adjoining festival grounds. There, while adults visited and ate lunch, children danced, played ball, and waited in line for their personal audience with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Many of those at the 2007 celebration expressed gratitude at being back in St. Bernard, even if only for the holidays while their homes are still being rebuilt, pleasure that the event has returned, and the wish that it "build back up" to be a true parade with the decorated boats they fondly remember.

Text and photos by Laura Renée Westbrook, Louisiana Regional Folklife Program