Courir de Mardi Gras

Ask any Cajun and we bet they'll tell you they spend all year waiting for Mardi Gras to roll around. The sights and sounds of a New Orleans Mardi Gras are amazing - we won't deny. The pageantry and extravagance makes for a beautiful display of royalty and one heck of a good time. But we would argue that you haven't experienced a true Fat Tuesday until you've done it in Cajun country. A Courir de Mardi Gras (Mardi Gras run) is the traditional celebration of Mardi Gras; it is highly revered and deep rooted in tradition. The sense of community that surrounds a Courir de Mardi Gras is a great representation of the Cajun way of life. Keep reading to learn more about traditional Cajun Mardi Gras and register if you'd like to participate in the 3rd Annual Courir de Mardi Gras de L'anse.

What is the Courir de Mardi Gras?

The Courir de Mardi Gras is a traditional practice that is still going on in many rural communities in Louisiana today.

Mardi Gras is celebrated in the Catholic faith as the day before Ash Wednesday; the beginning of the Lenten season. During Lent Catholics fast and focus on a minimalist lifestyle in order to grow in the faith. As such, the Courir de Mardi Gras seeks to prepare a gumbo for the entire community before they begin Lenten fast and penance.

Traditionally, masked men parade on horseback from house to house in the community asking for ingredients for their gumbo. They pray, sing and dance to persuade the home owner to give them anything they can put in the pot. Rice, sausage, money or the ultimate prize - a chicken. Chickens aren't just handed out around here. It's the grand prize and it requires a little bit of a show, if you will. Should the home owner choose to give them a chicken, he sets it loose and the men set out to catch it. It's a sight to see and when someone catches it, there is no shortage of pride or celebration.

At the end of the day the men gather with the community (usually at a church hall or the home of a prominent community member) and cook up a gumbo. There is food and a good time to be had by all. Almost 100% of the time you'll find a Cajun band playing tunes and a crowd of people - both young and old - dancing the night away.

Photo courtesy of Steven Perilloux, www.stephenperilloux.com