Chasing chickens to provide a community gumbo is what sets us apart from so many other places in Louisiana. I think it’s really special how we are still participating in this original tradition so many years later. I love participating in south Louisiana Courir de Mardi Gras for so many reasons. Revelry, enjoyment of drinking and dancing, and chasing chickens is encouraged by all as it is the last of this behavior before ending Fat Tuesday and entering the Lenten season. This song is played the entire time because it tells the story of how this is done every year. There’s always a trailer during the run with either a band or recording of the traditional Mardi Gras song. The masks stay on because it is part of the fun to try and guess who was behind the mask.Īt the end of the route through the countryside, all ingredients are collected at a designated spot where the revelers partake in a grand community gumbo for all to enjoy! In exchange for the chicken, rice, onions, or any other ingredients, the men would entertain the hospitality of the people by dancing with them while still masked. Once permission had been granted, the captain would wave his flag so the rest of the men on horseback would know it was OK to enter the yard. The captain of the group of dressed men would stop at a house, and he alone would approach the owners and ask for permission to enter the yard. The tradition of chasing chickens started by men on horseback dressed in costumes and masks riding through the countryside, stopping at houses along the way to beg for food. In the central and south central rural areas of our state, we celebrate Mardi Gras by having the traditional Courir de Mardi Gras. New Orleans and other metropolitan areas around the state celebrate Mardi Gras by participating in grand-themed parades. “There are many areas of our state that hold on to very rooted traditions regarding Mardi Gras in Louisiana. She was more than happy to share her first-hand knowledge of the event with us and give us some insight into its deeply-rooted Cajun history: The History of Cajun Mardi Gras and the Chicken Chaseįormer teller at our Opelousas branch Lauren Fontenot used to attend the Courir de Mardi Gras and chicken chase each year. This area is where the true Cajun Mardi Gras magic happens. While there aren’t many residents purely speaking French down there, you can still hear French phrases mixed in with Cajun-accented English. The rural living and the now-famous Cajun accents can be experienced throughout many cities in the South. Many of the Acadiana residents are Cajuns and embody everything that Cajun stands for. The company received a misspelled invoice addressed to the “Acadiana Television Corporation,” and the name just kind of stuck. In 1963, the President of KATC, the Acadian Television Corporation, was attempting to find a good name for the regions surrounding Lafayette, much like ArkLaTex. The term Acadiana was actually never supposed to be used to describe the area it was purely accidental. The Acadians were originally exiled from Canada, coming down to Louisiana after being expelled during and after the French and Acadian War. The area is named for the French Acadians that settled into the area in the 18 th century. What is Cajun country?Ĭajun country, or the Acadianas, is the Southern-most region in Louisiana. It was then brought over to settlers in the Cajun country. The Courir de Mardi Gras is a cultural tradition dating back to Europe as early as the 17 th century. The Cajun Mardi Gras, traditionally known as Courir de Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday Run, has been a staple in southern Louisiana for hundreds (yes, hundreds) of years. We’re talking about local, Cajun Mardi Gras-complete with a chicken chase! For a large part of Louisiana, this isn’t the true Mardi Gras. When most people think Mardi Gras, they think parades, beads, and the French Quarter.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |