On this day, April 30, in 1812, Louisiana becomes the 18th state to join the United States. This event came nine years to the date after the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase was made for a price of less than three cents an acre.
To celebrate the anniversary of statehood, here are some facts of the Pelican State. This information is taken from the Louisiana Secretary of State Website.
Origin of Name: Louisiana was named by Robert de LaSalle, an early French explorer, for Louis XIV, King of France.
State Nickname: The Pelican State and Sportsman’s Paradise
State Motto: Union, Justice, Confidence
State Colors: Gold, White, and Blue
State Fossil: Petrified Palmwood
State Boat: Pirogue
State Gemstone: Cabochon cut gemstone
State Cuisine: Gumbo
State Drink: Milk
State Musical Instrument: Diatonic Accordion (commonly known as the “Cajun” accordion)
State Amphibian: Green Tree Frog
State Freshwater Fish: White Perch (also called sac-au-lait and white crappie)
State Songs: “Give Me Louisiana,” by Doralice Fontane and “You Are My Sunshine,” by former Louisiana Gov. Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell
State Reptile: Alligator
State Mammal: Louisiana Black Bear
State Flower: Magnolia
State Insect: Honeybee
State Bird: Brown Pelican
State Wildflower: Louisiana Iris
State Dog: Catahoula Leopard Dog
State Tree: Bald Cypress
State Fruit: Strawberry
State Crustacean: Crawfish
Earliest Explorers: Spanish: Alvarez de Pineda (1519), Cabeza de Vaca (1528), Hernando DeSoto (1541); French: LaSalle (1682), Iberville and Bienville (1699)
In Louisiana, local government units, known elsewhere as counties, are called parishes. Originally they were church units set up by the Spanish provisional governor of Louisiana in 1769, in conjunction with 11 administrative districts. As Louisiana developed, it was found that the districts were too large and the smaller religious divisions were more suitable. As a consequence, when Louisiana became a state, the term “parish” was accepted with the name of the region to which it had applied under the church. Today, Louisiana has 64 parishes.
Mardi Gras is an ancient custom that originated in southern Europe, was brought to Louisiana by the French and was later continued by the Spanish. As each year passed, Mardi Gras became a bigger and bigger event. Soon superbly ornamented carriages, musical marching bands and richly decorated masqueraders began to parade the streets of New Orleans. Although Mardi Gras is actually only one day, Fat Tuesday, today it has come to mean the last two weeks of carnival that immediately precede Mardi Gras Day. The celebration occurs in preparation for the 40 days of Lent that follow, and festivities may include balls, parades, street masking or any combination of these activities.