Hotels In New Orleans French Quarter

There is nothing quite so uniquely “New Orleans” as the second line. Born from the union of West African burial traditions and the mastery of classical brass instruments by Creoles, the tradition of the second line dates back to the early nineteenth century and the emergence of Social Aid, & Pleasure Clubs. Formed of a basic functional need, these clubs came to prominence as a way for disenfranchised African Americans to organize, support each other, and collectively overcome hardship. They were social organizations, woven into and supporting the fabric of community, from weddings and celebrations to another New Orleans hallmark – Jazz Funerals.

It is from this tradition of Jazz Funerals that second lining originated. While the funeral procession from church to cemetery was an insular affair, accompanied exclusively by solemn dirges and family members of the deceased, the second line was the celebratory coda. A parade open to any and all, an occasion to rejoice in life and the magnificence of this terrestrial plane. The tradition has evolved over the centuries, blossoming across parishes, entrenching itself in the daily ritual of life, marking funerals and celebrations, or for no other reason than to convene in unabandoned merriment.