DID YOU KNOW? Mr. Bingle wasn't always named Mr. Bingle?! The magical snowman that could fly with holly leaves as wings and an ice cream cone for a hat was created by a worker at the Maison Blanche department store. The character was conceived in 1947 and was originally called “SNOW DOLL” but the owner of the department store wanted the character to have the initials M.B. and after a naming contest among store employees, he became Mr. Bingle. Shortly after he made his public debut in 1948 as a way to boost holiday sales at the retailer.
HIS JOURNEY: Mr. Bingle started as a puppet entertaining people in the Canal Street storefront window before evolving into a symbol of Christmas in New Orleans long after the century-old store permanently closed its doors in 1998. After Hurricane Katrina the original Mr. Bingle paper mache sculpture was located in a warehouse that miraculously spared from flooding. It was lovingly restored to its former glory and brought to City Park becoming a permanent fixture of the annual Celebration in the Oaks in 2005.
WHERE NOSTALGIA MEETS NOSTALGIA! Each year Mr. Bingle makes his way down the streets of New Orleans like a Mardi Gras float with his cone hat off to clear the hanging street lights on his way to City Park where he’s parked near the entrance to Carousel Garden Amusement Park nestled under a large oak tree dripping with the iconic hanging blue snowflakes which have been part of Christmas in the Oaks (later renamed Celebration in the Oaks) since it’s official start in 1987.
Why is the Nola Noel series important to me?
The core of my annual Nola Noel series is the nostalgic Christmas memories made with family & friends throughout the years visiting downtown New Orleans for the holidays. After all memories are what we truly cherish for a lifetime.
What’s Special about this Ornament?
A handmade product lovingly created in my studio using one of my paper prints sandwiched between two pieces of 3” square glass soldered together. Each ornament is hand signed, hangs from a strap of tanned leather and comes in a labeled box with a clear lid.
DID YOU KNOW? Mr. Bingle wasn't always named Mr. Bingle?! The magical snowman that could fly with holly leaves as wings and an ice cream cone for a hat was created by a worker at the Maison Blanche department store. The character was conceived in 1947 and was originally called “SNOW DOLL” but the owner of the department store wanted the character to have the initials M.B. and after a naming contest among store employees, he became Mr. Bingle. Shortly after he made his public debut in 1948 as a way to boost holiday sales at the retailer.
HIS JOURNEY: Mr. Bingle started as a puppet entertaining people in the Canal Street storefront window before evolving into a symbol of Christmas in New Orleans long after the century-old store permanently closed its doors in 1998. After Hurricane Katrina the original Mr. Bingle paper mache sculpture was located in a warehouse that miraculously spared from flooding. It was lovingly restored to its former glory and brought to City Park becoming a permanent fixture of the annual Celebration in the Oaks in 2005.
WHERE NOSTALGIA MEETS NOSTALGIA! Each year Mr. Bingle makes his way down the streets of New Orleans like a Mardi Gras float with his cone hat off to clear the hanging street lights on his way to City Park where he’s parked near the entrance to Carousel Garden Amusement Park nestled under a large oak tree dripping with the iconic hanging blue snowflakes which have been part of Christmas in the Oaks (later renamed Celebration in the Oaks) since it’s official start in 1987.
Why is the Nola Noel series important to me?
The core of my annual Nola Noel series is the nostalgic Christmas memories made with family & friends throughout the years visiting downtown New Orleans for the holidays. After all memories are what we truly cherish for a lifetime.
What’s Special about this Ornament?
A handmade product lovingly created in my studio using one of my paper prints sandwiched between two pieces of 3” square glass soldered together. Each ornament is hand signed, hangs from a strap of tanned leather and comes in a labeled box with a clear lid.
