Brooke - Winter in NOLA

The Unpredictable weather

Will not stifle sweaters

Nor the urge to drink hot chocolate

Despite the air condition and the sweat

Constellations wrapped around knotted trees

Oh god, please let there be a Brees.

I believe in this thing called winter.

And the staged Christmas cards I sent her

Heat and humidity stuff stockings

Yes, northeast, we can hear you mocking.

At our synthetic firs

And “low” temperatures

But the holidays below sea level

Don’t involve getting out the shovel

Brooke, age 17

Shealynn - Winter in NOLA

There is no snow in sight

White Christmases are rarely found here;

And although it gets cold at night

New Orleans is full of good, holiday cheer.

The streetcars everyone holds dear

Are covered with garland and giant red bows

One may find it queer for someone to want to keep them up all year

But in this strange city, anything goes.

All the children here are waiting for that beautiful snow

Though adults understand there’s no guarantee

Nevertheless who knows,

Guess we’ll all just have to wait and see.

Shealynn, age 16

Chelsea - Winter in NOLA

You know it's Christmas when

you go anywhere and hear it's Christmas time in new Orleans

Canal st is all decorated

You go into the Roosevelt hotel and it is a winterwonderland

You see the carolers on st Charles

They light the christmas tree in the French quarter

That's when you know it's Christmas


Chelsea, age 15

Taylor - Winter in NOLA

Some may say you haven’t experienced the holiday season until it snows, but down here in the party
city we would disagree and say you don’t know what it means to have Christmas in New Orleans! As for
the snow we’ve had our share and that’s enough for me because one of those rare instances was soon
followed by the infamous Katrina.

As a diehard New Orleanian the cold is not my friend; 70 degrees is about as low as I would see fit to
leave the house otherwise all schools and obligations should be put on hold until it warms up a bit.

Living in New Orleans, you learn at a young age to make the best of any situation and continue the
party. So snow or no snow we will continue to sit back with a cup of hot egg nog, bundled up like
Eskimos as we sit around the TV and enjoy the Christmas season!! Happy Holidays

Taylor, age 16

Jade - Winter in NOLA

Cold mornings, colder nights

Christmas in the Oaks

No fights

Unforgettable nights

Uggs, and a Northface

Hot coco and marshmallows

Bonfires and friends

O, Nola nights!

Jade, age 15

Jackie - Winter in NOLA

Have you gone to summer camp?

I have so often

Therefore I should know

What its like to have a Christmas in July.

Its warm, its joyful, and its unique

But, its what exactly describes

New Orleans in the Holiday Season

Although, the cold weather

Does seem to seep through the warm weather

But the lights are hung on roofs,

Bushes, trees, windows.

The smiles emerge

The stores are packed

And the surprises are occurring everywhere

Its one of the happiest times

Its one of the favorite emotions that fill the air.

Jackie, age 16

Molly - Winter in NOLA

In December, it’s hot.

There are still wreaths up.

In December, it’s hot.

We still listen to jazzy Christmas carols.

In December, it’s hot.

So we eat jambalaya instead of gumbo for Christmas.

In December it’s hot.

But we still drink hot chocolate.

In December it’s hot.

But we wear our Christmas sweaters anyway.

In December it’s hot.

But we pretend that it’s cold.

Molly, age 15

Megan - Winter in NOLA

New Orleans is a conceited city
we think we are special because it doesn’t snow during the holidays
when did the holidays become all about snow?
we have gifts
we have carolers
and we have just as much holiday spirit as anyone else

but we want people to feel bad that we don’t experience a winter wonderland
but we shriek everytime the temperature drops below 75
snow is cold
snow is unpredictable
snow is wet
it requires layers of clothing to just walk outside

New Orleans is a conceited city
but I would think we would be so solipsistic to see the benefits in our lack of snow
snow is contradictory- miserable yet majestic
New Orleans is better off without it
But that’s just it

Were arrogant and proud of our city
We do not like thinking we do not have something.

Megan, age 16

Emily - Winter in NOLA

In the mornings, the garlands and wreathes are drenched with dew
And the brightly colored bows sag in the heat
The wooden snowman in the garden has his painted eyes on the rising sun
As he wonders silently why he is out
For the summer

There is a fleeting day of summer
When the mist hangs heavy in the air
And a warm breeze stirs the leaves
People can relax in the heat
There is a laziness induced by the utter lack of shivering at this time of year

But the wise men never get too comfortable 
Because the warmth lasts only till the next rain, the next wind
When winter  once again breaths it’s frosty breath on the poor, coatless southerners

In New Orleans
Where you can never depend on the whether
You can always depend on people
Every one as different as a snowflake

And while there is no white Christmas here
And the weather is scarcely frightful
And Frosty the Snowman is made of plastic and filled with air

When there is singing in Jackson Square,
The city is covered, not in a blanket of frosty white
But in a blanket of happy voices
Warmth, Merriment
And love

Emily, age 15

Anonymous - Winter in NOLA

Christmas in New Orleans

Burning cold and wetness.
Some might ask how this might be.
Something so cold that it burns?
Something that should be dry is wet?

Christmas in the Oaks, warm gumbo,
and wreaths on every streetcar.

Some might be asking where and what this is.
Decorations on the “Wedding Cake House”,
                                          fake snow in damp yards,
girls in white dresses with their moms
                                       waiting for Teddy Bear Tea.
You are asking where might this happen.
Its here, in New Orleans, where else would it be?

Anonymous, age 14

Ashley - Winter in NOLA

When you read the Cajun Night Before Christmas,

When carolers play saxophones,

When streetcars are decorated like Christmas trees,

When most Christmas pics are taken by oak trees,

When your Christmas isn’t white,

When you eat gumbo on Christmas day,

When you know what Christmas means,

You know it’s Christmastime in New Orleans

Ashley, age 17

Sarah - Winter in NOLA

When its Christmas time in New Orleans

Fire places are roaring

Children are singing

Bells are ringing

Snow is not falling

But NOLA is not crying.

New Orleans celebrates Christmas in a different way

It is unexplainable.

One day hot, the next day cold

But that is how New Orleanians roll

Sarah, age 16

Liza - Winter in NOLA

Chapped lips, cold feet, dry face

But where’s the snow?

In the mall and on the trees

But where’s the snow?

Jumped out of bed and ran to the window

But where’s the snow?

Forecast tomorrow –rain.

Eyes glistening with white hope

Rain comes but no snow.

Liza, age 17

Anonymous - Winter in NOLA

no snow to be seen

beautiful New Orleans cheer

strange clothes everywhere

Anonymous, age 14

Grace - Winter in NOLA

Cold air comes and leaves without a notice
Not even a “hello” or “goodbye”
The chill is always unexpected.
It quietly interrupts the overpowering heat
And freezes the inhabitants of our adapted society
The season of winter in New Orleans,
Does it exist?


Grace, age 17

Annie - Winter in NOLA

New Orleans in the Holiday Season

Going to City Park to Christmas in the Oaks

Lights going up around the city

The air becoming chilly

Friends and family getting together

Laughter and love filling the air

Exams drifting closer and closer

People hugging

People being happy and cheerful because Christmas is near

Joy spreading around the city

A feeling of home and togetherness is what the holiday season in New Orleans is

Annie, age 16

Madeline - Winter in NOLA

Not as cold as it should be!

Ornaments on the tree!

Lights outside on the houses in Uptown, Lakeview, and Metairie!

All about the avenue!

Will it ever snow??

Invitations to Christmas in the Oaks and winter balls!

Now, how about them tigas and Saints?

Tinsel wrapping the presents under the tree!

Evening out to get the Christmas tree in the cold.

Running out of school after our last day of exams!

Madeline, age 15

Julia - Winter in NOLA

The weather in New Orleans is not ideal for Christmas,

but Christmas in New Orleans is still filled with joy and memories...

Going to pick out different shaped colored Christmas tress, because your mother believes "they are so much more fun"

The excitement in the air when picking up your siblings from the airport

Dad trying to find his collection of winter hats he has been preparing for everyone all year for that ONE day in New Orleans it gets cold....but just can't seem to find them in the garage

Hearing your brother talk about how he has decided to go on "Deadliest Catch"

Actually needing to talk to your neighbors because they are in the "holiday spirit"

Walking into a headache, because your parents have decided to light all of the holiday candles

During Christmas time "pains and annoyances" turn into joy!

Julia, age 16

Katie - Winter in NOLA

Yats

Mr. Bingle

The Cajun Christmas

The magic of Fulton Street

Caroling In Jackson Square                                Hot Gumbo with Warm Rolls

      The spirit of community                 playoffs                    The spirit of hospitality

Pictures at City Park             Lights of the Roosevelt              Santa’s Workshop.

     Alligator reindeer              Laughter in air                Lights on Canal                
Trumpets                   downtown                            love                               

Love

Nutcracker

Playoffs

BCS Championship

Poinsettias

Caroling                            Candy Dome                            Garland

the not too hot                       not too cold

no snow                 no quiet

shopping

Home

Katie, age 16

Lillie - Winter in NOLA

Wintertime in New Orleans is similar to any othersub-tropical city. It’s muggy and border line cold, with a few wintery showers sprinkling against the streetcar lights. Nothing seems to change in thebackdrop, save more clouds invading more days. Coffee and hot chocolate reign without reason, as if only to comfort those yearning for snow.  Regardless, the best feeling in the world is created after a walk through the French Quarter on an especially dreary day, after the flagging down of a streetcar, after the opening of a window, and an investment in warm liquid accompanied by a coozy.


Lillie, age 17