PAPA NOEL: The Legacy of the Levee Bonfires
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PAPA NOEL: The Legacy of the Levee Bonfires follows filmmaker Mark Niedelson as he immerses himself in the 200-year-old Christmas tradition of St. James Parish, Louisiana. Through the warmth of fire and food, this captivating documentary captures the heart of a community working together to keep their folk rituals alive.
Genres: Documentary, Short Film
Duration: 48 minutes
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Availability: Worldwide
About the Film
What begins as a simple project to capture St. James Parish's historic Christmas Eve celebration unfolds into personal interviews and storytelling. Families and bonfire clubs invite the viewer into their homes, sharing traditions passed down for generations. The community takes part in sourcing materials and building the elaborate bonfires, which culminates in a grand lighting ceremony, signaled by the County Fire Marshall.
In PAPA NOEL, viewers witness this visually stunning celebration, a testament to the community’s dedication to preserving a rich tradition that embodies camaraderie and cultural pride.
This film demonstrates the strength in community and the power of giving. When a group of people unite to put on a celebration of fire, like their ancestors did many times before them, it's an inspiration and a transportation back to the bare essence of what the meaning of family and holidays are all about.
History of the Bonfires
The River Parishes of Louisiana (St. James, St. John, and St. Charles) were settled in the early 1700s by French and German colonists, who brought bonfire traditions from their homelands for both summer and winter celebrations. Over time, these customs evolved into today’s Christmas Eve levee bonfires.
While early settlers focused on survival, evidence shows the tradition grew by the 1860s, with bonfires marking events like St. John the Baptist’s feast. A photograph from 1871 shows bonfires at Laura Plantation, though the season is unclear.
The tradition surged in the 1950s with new families moving near the levee. Bonfire-building became more elaborate, with chainsaws replacing axes, and creative structures like plantation houses and riverboats emerging. The growing popularity attracted thousands of visitors, transforming River Road into a festive hub for Christmas Eve.
The early French and German settlers likely never imagined their bonfires would turn into such a cherished holiday event, but they would certainly approve with a hearty “Joyeux Noël” and “Fröhliche Weihnachten!”
Excerpts taken from: BONFIRES ON THE LEVEE by Emily Chenet Guidry. To read the article in it's entirety, please CLICK HERE
Donations
Please consider donating to the distribution of PAPA NOEL as the film will be airing nationwide on PBS next fall. The team will need support to get the message out there and to reach all 350 PBS affiliates.