Here Are 12 Things People from Louisiana Do That Seem Insane To Everyone Else

Louisiana is a state where culture, food, and celebrations collide in ways outsiders can hardly keep up with. To locals, these habits are everyday life, but to visitors, they often look like pure chaos (with a lot of spice). From eating mudbugs to throwing beads from balconies, Louisiana has perfected its own wild brand of “normal.”

1. Eat Crawfish by the Bucket

Sucking heads and pinching tails is considered fine dining. Outsiders? Half horrified, half intrigued.

2. Celebrate Mardi Gras Like It’s a Month-Long Holiday

Floats, beads, costumes, parades—outsiders think it’s one day. Locals know it’s a lifestyle.

3. Put Hot Sauce on Literally Everything

Eggs, pizza, gumbo, fried chicken—if it’s food, it probably got a Tabasco bath first.

4. Talk in Cajun or Creole Slang Mid-Sentence

“Lagniappe,” “cher,” “making groceries”—outsiders need subtitles, but locals don’t miss a beat.

5. Treat Gumbo as Both Soup and Social Event

It’s not just a dish—it’s a reason to gather, argue about recipes, and feed an entire neighborhood.

6. Host Jazz Funerals That Are Somehow Joyful

Outsiders expect tears; locals turn grief into a second line parade with brass bands and dancing.

7. Cook With Seasonings Outsiders Can’t Pronounce

If you can’t say andouille or étouffée, you probably aren’t from around here.

8. Measure Distances by Parishes, Not Counties

Yes, Louisiana has parishes, not counties—and yes, they’ll correct you every single time.

9. Catch Beads from Balconies Like Olympic Athletes

During Mardi Gras, dodging and diving for beads is basically a sport.

10. Treat Hurricanes as Party Starters

Stock up on candles? Sure. But also beer, crawfish, and a radio for dancing in the dark.

11. Play Zydeco and Cajun Music at Full Volume

Outsiders call it niche; locals call it Saturday night.

12. Fry Alligator and Serve It Proudly

It’s on the menu right next to shrimp and catfish. Outsiders freak out—locals just ask for dipping sauce.

To outsiders, these Louisiana quirks might seem wild, weird, or downright insane. But for locals, they’re part of the flavor that makes the Bayou State unforgettable. Stay long enough, and you’ll be eating crawfish by the pound, dancing in a second line, and casually putting hot sauce on everything you own.