Swampy Claus

Children's Christmas Story from Southern Louisiana:

In the early 1700s, French people settled in the area known today as Louisiana. The southern part of the state contains about a million acres of swamp land. Many of the folks living in the swamps make their living by hunting and fishing. Some even decorate their Christmas trees with items from the  swamp.      

     Often a family will have a small boat called a pirouge (pee-rog).                                                                                                                                                               Some folks who live there call a swamp a slough (sloo).    

     While this story, Swampy Claus, is fictitious, it is an early introduction to real life in that area, especially at Christmas time. 

      It's also common to find names like Pacôme (PAE-Kow-M) or Simoneaux (Si-Mo-no).

      Kids and parents (and grandparents) enjoy this book. It makes for a great read-to-me out-loud special Christmas Memory even for younger children.