Keeping the Fires Burning

On the Cover: December 2022

Cover by Boone Clemons

Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

We live in a place sustained by tradition. It’s what connects each of us to our an cestors, to our cultures—and in the brilliant diversity of Louisiana’s mixing pot, tradition offers an avenue to celebrate the things that separate us from the rest of the world, as well as a practice of preserving them. Boone Clemens man ages to capture so much of this sentiment in the photograph we’ve chosen for our December cover—a vision of warmth, community, craftsmanship, and celebration surrounding a tradition that’s been practiced for genera tions: the River Parish’s Christmas Eve bonfires (page 36).

In considering the best way to close out the 39th volume of Country , the prompt of “Traditions” for this final issue of 2022 seemed so rich in possibility—particularly around the context of the holidays, and all the magic they inspire. Our features section in this issue spotlights three distinctly Louisiana holiday traditions—a festival, a feast, and a folktale. Each has elusive origins, but is understood to be at least a century old. And each survives, sustained by the excitement and wonder inspired by treasured things handed down from one generation to the next. However you celebrate this holiday season, know that we at Country Roads are honored to be a part of your traditions this year, and for many years to come.