Twas the Night Before Christmas in Louisiana
Did you know that Santa once moved to Louisiana and that there is a book called, the Cajun Night Before Christmas by Trosclair and James Rice, that tells the tale? Since the 1970's James Rice has delighted readers with his fanciful illustrations, stories and poems. His first book, the Cajun Night Before Christmas is my favorite. This book actually started the children's book division of Pelican Publishing Company. Many other books featuring Gaston the alligator followed. Join us as we enjoy James Rice's wonderful creations. You'll also find humorous Louisiana Christmas videos and information about Cajuns (Acadians) and alligators, as well as many Louisiana foods and other unique Christmas gifts.
Cajun Night Before Christmas
"Twas the night before Christmas
An' all t'ru de house
Dey don't a t'ing pass
Not even a mouse
De chirren been nezzle
Good snug on de flo'
An' Mama pass de pepper
T'ru de crack on de do'."
Why We Love the Cajun Night Before Christmas
When we first read the Cajun Night Before Christmas in the late 1970's we fell in love with it and the next Christmas, my sister gave us a copy as a Christmas present. Since then I have been reading it to my library classes and my nieces and nephews. Since I was raised in north Louisiana where French speaking people are scarce, I'm not bilingual, but I discovered that my half French background aided me in speaking with many different accents. If you've ever been around Cajuns, then reading the Cajun night before Christmas is fun. All you have to do is say the words the way they are written and think of Justin Wilson.
The Cajun or Acadian culture is rich with folklore. Even though James Rice was born a Texan, he was a Louisianian in his heart and he has provided us with so many glorious, entertaining books that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.
The Cajun Night Before Christmas and his other "Night Before Christmas" books should be included in all teaching units about Christmas customs. Other Night Before Christmas books that were illustrated by James Rice are included in the featured and listed books below.
Original Cajun Night Before Christmas
Cajun Night Before Christmas (Night Before Christmas Series)
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 12/06/2009)
James Rice Biography
Courtesy of Pelican Publishing Company
James Rice died of a heart attack in his home on Sunday, May 30, 2004. Mr. Rice was one of the South's leading illustrators of childrens books, with more than one-and-a-half million books in print, making him one of the top childrens' authors and illustrators nationally.
James Rice was born February 10, 1934 on a farm in Coleman County, Texas. Of his early interest in art, Mr. Rice said "I was raised in a rural background with no radio or television, so I had to rely on books and imagination for my entertainment. My heroes were the great pen and ink artists of the nineteenth century: Abby, Frost, Kemble, N.C. Wyeth, of course, Norman Rockwell, Remington, and Nicolades."
In 2003, Pelican Publishing celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of James Rice's classic Cajun Night Before Christmas. Cajun Night Before Christmas was a true collaboration between publisher Milburn Calhoun and Mr. Rice, who was then a professor of art at a local college. Mr. Rice visited the fledgling company on his motorcycle with a portfolio and Dr. Calhoun shared his idea for the book. One week later Mr. Rice returned with drawings of hundreds of alligators in all kinds of poses. Cajun Night Before Christmas was the beginning of the childrens book division and launched a close publishing relationship that endured for more than thirty years. At the time of his death, Mr. Rice was working on illustrations for a book he wrote, titled Santa's Revenge in which Santa gets back at him for getting him into all kinds of situations.
Several years ago, when the Children's Book Council asked Mr. Rice his thoughts on illustrating a classic - how he brought new life to an old tale: "The author (and illustrator) have to strike a chord in harmony with many ordinary people across time. Most successful authors/illustrators must become actors as they assume the roles of various characters in their stories. As for myself, I look at each project as a new challenge."
Cajun Night Before Christmas was also the beginning of Mr. Rice's The Night Before Christmas Series, which now numbers eighteen titles.
Mr. Rice moved to Hico, Texas in 1980. Over the years, he wrote and illustrated a number of regional children's picture books on subjects related to the states he considered home: Texas and Louisiana.
He also wrote historical fiction for young readers, and was a favorite at schools, nursing homes, and community centers in both states and across the country.
In the spring of 2004, Mr. Rice delivered two paintings commissioned by the Institute of Texas Cultures depicting René-Robert Cavalier, Sieur de la Salle landing in Texas. One painting contains thirty-three historical errors that children visiting the museum can find, while the other is historically correct.
James Rice graduated with a bachelor of fine art from the University of Texas, a master of fine arts degree from Stephen F. Austin University and a master of arts in education from Howard Payne College. He taught art and music at both the high school and college levels, including eleven years at Southeastern Louisiana State University in Hammond, and positions at Louisiana State University and Dallas Baptist College.
An avid musician, Mr. Rice often brought his clarinet to school appearances, and enjoyed sitting in with local bands when he was on tour. As a young man, Rice traveled with the Jack Schultz Orchestra, which played big band music across the mid-west.
James Rice's work has earned several awards over the years, including
Gaston® Goes to Texas, Certificate of Award from Printer Industries of America, 1979
The Night Before Christmas, Certificate of Merit, Printer Industries of America 1990
Why Cowboys Sleep with Their Boots On, Certificate of Merit, Printer Industries of America 1996
Cajun Night Before Christmas, Not Just for Children Anymore Classics, CBC 2002
The Teachers' Night Before Christmas, Children's Choices, CBC/IRA 2002
Why Cowboys Need A Pardner, Children's Books Mean Business, CBC 2002
(Reference: Pelican Biography)
Den Mama in de fireplace
Done roas' up de ham
Stir up de gumbo
An' make bake de yam.
Den out on de by-you
Dey got such a clatter
Make soun' link old Boudreau
Done fall off his ladder.
I run like a rabbit
To got to de do'
Trip over the dorg
An' fall on de flo'.
As I look out de do'
In de light o' de moon
I t'ink "Manh, you crazy
Or got ol' too soon."
Louisiana Christmas on Zazzle
Christmas Designs by Naturally Native Creations
Cajun Night Before Christmas YouTube Video
Louisiana Christmas on Amazon
Add Your Own Items to the List
Rhythm and Blues Christmas
1 - The Little Boy That Santa Forgot - Johnny Adam more...1 point
Cajun Night Before Christmas (Miniature Edition) by Trosclair
More than twenty-five years after its first appear more...0 points
Louisiana State Fightin Tigers NCAA Mike the Tiger Mascot Ornament
Louisiana State Fightin Tigers NCAA Mike the Tiger more...0 points
Cajun Night Before Christmas Readin' YouTube Video
Gaston Santa Claus and Books
Gaston The Green-Nosed Alligator Gift Set
Amazon Price: (as of 12/06/2009)
Cajun Facts from Wikipedia
Cajuns (; or les Acadiens) are an ethnic group mainly living in Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles (French-speaking settlers from Acadia or Nova Scotia, in the maritime provinces of what is now Canada). Today, the Cajuns make up a significant portion of south Louisiana's population, and have exerted an enormous impact on the state's culture.Carl A. Brasseaux, Acadian to Cajun: Transformation of a People. Jackson, Miss.: University Press of House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 2nd edition
Acadia consisted mainly of present-day Nova Scotia, and included parts of eastern Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and modern-day Maine.
The origin of the designation Acadia is credited to the explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, who on his sixteenth century map applied the ancient Greek name "Arcadia" to the entire Atlantic coast north of Virginia. "Arcadia" derives from the Arcadia district in Greece which since Classical antiquity had the extended meanings of "refuge" or "idyllic place". The Dictionary of Canadian Biography says: "In the 17th century Champlain fixed its present orthography, with the 'r' omitted, and (the Canadian historian) W.F.Ganong has shown its gradual progress northwards, in a succession of maps, to its resting place in the Atlantic Provinces."Link to Dictionnary of Canadian Biography online
Cajun Night After Christmas
Cajun Night After Christmas
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 12/05/2009)
Facts about Acadians on Wikipedia
The Acadians () are the descendants of the seventeenth-century French colonists who settled in Acadia (located in the Canadian Maritime provinces ? Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and in the US state of Maine). Although today most of the Acadians and Québécois are francophone Canadians, Acadia was founded in a region geographically and administratively separate from Quebec ("Canada" at this time), which led to their developing two distinct culturesLandry, Nicolas and Lang, Nicole (2001) Histoire de lAcadie, Septentrion, Quebec, 340 p., ISBN 2-89448-177-2. The settlers whose descendants became Acadians did not all come from the same region in France. Acadian family names have come from many areas in France, from the Maillets of Paris to the LeBlancs of Normandy. As additional examples, the popular Acadian surname Melanson' had its roots in Brittany, and those with the surname 'Bastarache', 'Basque', had their origin in the Basque Country.
In the Great Expulsion of 1755-1763, mostly during the Seven Years' War, British colonial officers and New England legislators and militia deported more than 14,000 Acadians from the maritime region. Many later settled in Louisiana, where they became known as Cajuns. Others were transported to FranceJean-Francois Mouhot (2009) Les Réfugiés acadiens en France (1758-1785): Limpossible réintégration?, Quebec, Septentrion, 456 p. 2-89448-513-1; Ernest Martin, Les Exilés Acadiens en France et leur installation dans le Poitou'', Paris, Hachette, 1936. Later on many Acadians returned to the Maritime provinces of Canada, most specifically New Brunswick. During the British conquest of New France, they renamed the French colony of Acadia as Nova Scotia (meaning New Scotland).
"Cuz dere on de by-you
W'en I stretch ma' neck stiff
Dere's eight alligator
A pullin' de skiff.
An' a little fat drover
Wit' a long pole-ing stick
I know r'at away
Got to be ole St. Nick.
Mo' fas'er and fas'er
De 'gator dey came
He whistle an' holler
An' call dem by name:
"Ha Gaston!
Ha, Tiboy!
Ha, Pierre an' Alcee'
Gee, Ninette!
Gee Suzette!
Celeste and Renee!"
"To de top o' de porch
To de top o' de wall
Make crawl, alligator
An' be sho' you don' fall."
Gaston the Green-nosed Alligator
Gaston the Green-Nosed Alligator Coloring Book
Amazon Price: (as of 12/06/2009)
Cajun Santa's Alligator Plush Toy
This just has to be one of the Cajun Santa's alligators and it's so cute and cuddly. The little ones will love to snuggle up with it while you read the Cajun Night Before Christmas at bed time.
Russ Berrie - Plush - Shining Stars Alligator
Amazon Price: $11.46 (as of 12/05/2009)
More Gaston the Alligator Books
Cajun Alphabet
Cajun Alphabet
Amazon Price: $15.34 (as of 12/05/2009)
A Letter from Santa for Your Child
No matter where you live, your child can receive a letter and/or a package from Santa posted from the North Pole. What child would not be thrilled to receive such a wonderful holiday surprise?
Gaston the Alligator on eBay
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Alligators on Wiki
An Alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. The name alligator is an anglicized form of el lagarto the Spanish term for "lizard", the name by which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator. There are two living alligator species: the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis).
There are many adaptations for the American alligator. Baby alligators have an egg tooth that helps them get out of their egg during hatching time. They also have a muscular flat tail that propels them forward while they swim.
Like Tante Flo's cat
T'ru de treetop he fly
W'en de big ol' houn' dorg
Come a run hisse'f by
Like dat up de porch
Dem ole 'gator clim!
Wit' de skiff full o' toy
An' St. Nicklus behin'.
Den on top de porch roof
It soun' like de hail
W'en all dem big 'gator
Done sot down dey tail.
Den down de chimney
I yell with a bam
An' St. Nicklus fall
An' sit on de yam.
"Sacre!" he axclaim
"Ma pant got a hole
I done sot ma'se'f
On dem red hot coal."
Louisiana Christmas Cards on Amazon
He got on his foots
An' jump like a cat
Out to de flo'
Where he lan' wit' a SPLAT!
He was dress in musk-rat
From his head to his foot
An' his clothes is all dirty
Wit' ashes an' soot.
A sack full o' playt'ing
He t'row on his back
He look like a burglar
An' dass fo' a fack.
James Rice Christmas on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byHis eyes how dey shine
His dimple how merry!
Maybe he been drink
De wine from blackberry.
His cheek was like rose
His nose like a cherry
On secon' t'ought maybe
He lap up de sherry.
Wit' snow-white chin whisker
An' quiverin' belly
He shook w'en he laugh
Like de stomberry jelly!
But a wink in his eye
An' a shook o' his head
Make my confi-dence dat
I don' got to be scared.
Santa and His Reindeer Used to Live Right Here Video
He don' do no talkin'
Gone straight to his work
Put playt'ing in sock
An' den turn wit' a jerk.
He put bot' his han'
Dere on top o' his head
Cas' an eye on de chimney
An' den he done said:
"Wit' all o' dat fire
An' dem burnin' hot flame
Me I ain' goin' back
By de way dat I came."
So he run out de do'
An' he clim' to de roof
He ain' no fool, him
For to make one more goof.
He jump in his skiff
An' crack his big whip.
De 'gator move down
An' don' make one slip.
Justin Wilson
is an icon for Cajun cooking and Cajun jokes. Even though he came from the Alexandria area, he developed a Cajun accent and was one of the first to spread the word about delicious Cajun food.
Justin Wilson Cookbook
Justin Wilson's Homegrown Louisiana Cookin'
Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 12/05/2009)
"An' I hear him shout loud
As a splashin' he go
"Merry Christmas to all
'Til I saw you some mo'!"
Cajun Cooking Gift Ideas on Amazon
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Ms. Margaret Brinkhaus, from Sunset, Louisiana, ta more...0 points
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Good on your favorite breakfast breads or serve ov more...0 points
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Includes: Lime Grilling Sauce (12oz), Peach Grilli more...0 points
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Wonderful Louisiana style marinade and grilling sa more...0 points
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No tailgate party is complete without nachos. Enjo more...0 points
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The NCAA Snack Pack contains a premium blend cayen more...0 points
Something to Talk About by Junior League of Lafayette Inc.
A fabulous new cookbook !!!!0 points
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Louisiana Gumbo Delights Gift Basket
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Taste of Louisiana Gift Basket
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Extra Large Gourmet Basket
Cajun or not, anyone on your gift list would enjoy this extra large gourmet gift basket.
Gourmet Basket Extra Large - $ 90.00
Bag Plockys Tortilla Chips, Salsa, Leibniz Butter Cookies, Golden Walnut Shortbread Cookies, Rademaker Chocolate Sticks, Contreau Cookies, Macys Cheesesticks, Crunchy Snack Pretzel Mix, Golden Walnut Cookies, Koppers Chocolates, Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares Substitutions - Unforeseen conditions may effect our suppliers. Therefore, substitutions of an item, or items of equal or greater value may be necessary. But rest assured, quality is never compromised. Please do not combine this item with other items in our catalog.
Acadiana Facts from Wikipedia
Acadiana, or The Heart of Acadiana, () is the official name given to the French Louisiana region that is home to a large Francophone population. Of the 64 parishes that make up Louisiana, 22 named parishes and other parishes of similar cultural environment, make up the intrastate region. "The Cajun Kingdom Of the Bayou," The New York Times. January 27, 1991
Travel to Acadiana with Orbitz!
Other Night Before Christmas Books
Illustrated by James Rice
James Rice illustrated many other "Night Before Christmas" Books. Here are a few examples.
Principal's Night Before Christmas
The Principal's Night Before Christmas (Night Before Christmas Series)
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 12/05/2009)
Pennsylvania Dutch Night Before Christmas
Pennsylvania Dutch Night Before Christmas (Night Before Christmas Series)
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 12/05/2009)
Cowboy Night Before Christmas
Cowboy Night Before Christmas: Formerly Titled Prairie Night Before Christmas (Night Before Christmas Series)
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 12/05/2009)
James Rice's Texas Books
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Leave us sometin' in de sock.
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