New Introduction

Culture. Noun. “the way of life of a particular people, as shown in their ordinary behavior and habits, their attitudes toward each other, and their moral and religious beliefs” (Cambridge Dictionary). It is easy to Google search for the definition of “culture”, but gaining a deep understanding of a foreign culture involves more than one Google search, a task that many rarely dare to perform, due to its difficulty. New Orleans, or “The Big Easy”, as many call it, has one of the more complex cultures in the United States, despite “Easy” being a part of its common name. The rich history of New Orleans has defined its modern culture, giving emphasis to the food and religion of the area. Creole food has become “the way of life”, and many rest their “religious beliefs” in Voodoo. Creole food and New Orleans Voodoo have nearly identical historical backgrounds, and, being two static aspects of New Orleans culture, many people, especially women, feel called to dedicate their life to both, or either. The culture and history of New Orleans food and Voodoo is rich and yet, pop culture misrepresents the vital role that women play in both, essentially masking the truths of New Orleans culture to the masses.