The Cajun Mardi Gras
of Mamou, Louisiana
Just as the Cajuns and Creoles are known for their fabulous, spicy food, Cajun Country is known for the fabulous spice it adds to the Mardi Gras celebration. There you'll find the mystery of Mardi Gras blended with Cajun magic to cook up one of the most colorful and unique pre-Lenten celebrations in the world.
Mamou, Louisiana, was founded when C.C. Duson in 1907 developed the town site and began selling lots. In 1911, Mamou was incorporated. The name derives from the Mamou Prairie, where the town is located, but how did the prairie get its name? One version is that Mamou is an Indian name meaning "Big Hunting Ground." After offering several other possible explanations, Revon Reed in his book Lache Pas La Patate gives this fanciful account: When the prairie was first settled by Europeans, they brought their animals, including herds of cattle. Mother cows with their calves were everywhere on the prairie. "Maa," the calves would call out. "Moo," the mother cows would respond.
The Courir de Mardi Gras (Mardi Gras run) is Cajun Country’s traditional rural celebration dating back to the earliest days of settlement. With its roots firmly in the medieval tradition of ceremonial begging, bands of masked and costumed horseback riders roam the countryside "begging" for ingredients for their communal gumbo. "Le Capitaine," a caped but unmasked captain, leads the riders from house to house where they dance and sing for donations such as chicken, sausage, rice and onions to be used in the gumbo. The riders do not throw trinkets as they do in the cities. Throws are not part of the traditional rural courir. The day's festivities end with a fais-do-do (dance) and lots of gumbo for Mardi Gras revelers.
La Capitaine and Courir de Mardi Gras
Dancing on horseback
Instead of tossing favors to the crowd
the Mardi Gras beg for donations as they ride into town
La Courir in action
The fais-do-do at the end of the day
For more photos and information -
http://www.lsue.edu/acadgate/mammardi.htm
http://www.lsue.edu/acadgate/mardmain.htm
Click here for a sample of Cajun music (Windows Media Player)
