Mardi Gras in Cajun Country !
Courir de Mardi Gras – Begging for gumbo ingredients
Traditionally known as Courir de Mardi Gras, festivities occur in towns throughout central Louisiana’s Cajun Country. Rooted in French medieval history, the Courir de Mardi Gras has many rituals that come together in a celebration on Fat Tuesday. The main event in a Cajun Country Mardi Gras is the traditional courir or “run” led by the capitaine of the Mardi Gras. Costumed and masked participants on horseback, foot or trailer make their way through the neighborhood performing another ancient ritual: begging. Yes, begging!
The revelers go from house to house singing and dancing for the owners in order to get different ingredients, all of which are used to make a communal gumbo at a celebration later that night. The last ingredient, and the highlight of the entire celebration, is the chicken.
Courir de Mardi Gras – Running
In addition to the run and chicken dance, you’ll see colorful costumes, hear the traditional Cajun Country Mardi Gras song and taste authentic Cajun cooking. Each town’s Courir de Gras is special and has a unique twist. In rural towns and communities.
Courir de Mardi Gras – Food and Family Fun
In Eunice, the fun starts on the Saturday before Mardi Gras at the Historic Liberty Theatre where the history and traditions of the Courir de Gras are explained. Then on Sunday, the family-friendly fun begins with music, crafts and an old-time boucherie where you can eat just about every Cajun dish your heart desires, from boudin and cracklins to backbone stew. Tap your feet to live music on Monday and then come back on Fat Tuesday when Eunice really gets cranking. There’s an entire festival happening downtown while the Courir de Mardi Gras collects the ingredient list for the gumbo. Later that day, catch the parade, do the Cajun two-step or visit
Cajun Country Mardi Gras is a must for anyone seeking authentic Louisiana. Make plans now to attend this year’s festivities and participate in Courir de Mardi Gras.
More Information –
http://www.louisianatravel.com/articles/cajun-mardi-gras
http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/creole_art_dance_chicken.html
Many aspects of the Mardi Gras celebration in L’Anse Maigre, a community north of Eunice are typical of other communities. Cultural Catholicism still binds the community together, and collecting ingredients for a communal gumbo remains central to their run. They work hard all year, but they also celebrate life abundantly because their faith teaches them that life has been redeemed and Mardi Gras day provides the opportunity to embrace the totality of human life. Led by a flag-bearing capitaine, this colorful and noisy procession of masked and costumed men on horses and wagons go from house to house in the countryside asking for charity in return for a performance of dancing and buffoonery. The participants are earnestly employed chasing chickens, the most valued offering, and they pride themselves on their ability to collect enough “live chickens” to feed the entire community “free of charge.”
