New Orleans' colonial history of French and Spanish
settlement has resulted in a strong Catholic tradition. In New Orleans and the
surrounding Louisiana Gulf Coast area, the predominant religion is Catholicism.
Within the Archdiocese of New Orleans (which includes not only the city but the
surrounding Parishes as well), 35.9% percent of the population is Roman
Catholic. The influence of Catholicism is reflected in many of the city's
French and Spanish cultural traditions, including its many parochial schools,
street names, architecture, and festivals, including Mardi Gras.
