Traditionally known as Courir de Mardi Gras, festivities occur in towns throughout central Louisiana’s Cajun Country. Rooted in French medieval history and brought to Louisiana in the 19th century, Courir de Mardi Gras has many rituals that come together in a celebration on Fat Tuesday (Feb. 25, 2020). In Tee-Mamou, the capitaine raises a flag to let Mardi Gras runners know to dismount their trucks and approach the house, chanting a traditional begging song called Le chanson de Mardi Gras. This community hosts one of the most remarkable celebrations, which draws many visitors to events on the Saturday preceding Fat Tuesday. A cajun tradition. In addition to Mamou, several towns in the prairies of south-central Louisiana put on similar Mardi Gras celebrations.The tradition faded in the 1930s and 1940, but the Cajun Renaissance of the 1960s help revive the rides. There, at the American Legion where the antics began earlier in the morning, a communal gumbo is served to the crowd. It’s the perfect ending to a wild, unforgettable, and authentic way to mark Mardi Gras. Pro Tip: Mamou is about three and a half hours northwest of New Orleans. You’ll likely want to stay the evening after all the Mardi Gras Just 10 miles from Ville Platte is the small town of Mamou (pronounced Mah-moo), which hosts one of the traditional Cajun Mardi Gras Celebration in the United States. The Courir de Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday run) dayed back to the fête de la quémande (feast of begging), of medieval France. Mamou may be an American Indian word that translates to "mammoth," "pawpaw" and "village site." Or the name may trace back to the French surname Mamou, which would make sense considering the many French-speaking Cajun families that settled the region. Mamou is also distinguished by its unique take on Mardi Gras. Kevin Fontenot, who has been a part of Mamou Mardi Gras for over 20 years, said, “If we do away with old traditions, people forget their past. We have had hard times. Now, we get to enjoy the MAMOU, La. (WAFB) - Everyone knows that Mardi Gras kicks off early in Mamou. It’s one of south Louisiana’s most unique Mardi Gras celebrations where the bird is the word and, some say, it is Several towns around Cajun Country have their own Cajun Mardi Gras, including Eunice, Church Point, Mamou, and Iota. To learn more, check out this article from LouisianaTravel.com. Have you ever experienced a Cajun Mardi Gras? How about any other Mardi Gras celebration in the state of Louisiana? Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field. Youngsville Mardi Gras Parade. March 1 at 11 a.m. Youngsville. Queen Evangeline’s Parade. March 3 at 6 p.m. Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field. King Gabriel’s Parade. March 4 at 10 a.m. Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field. Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade. March 4 at 1 p.m. Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field The Courir de Mardi Gras (Cajun French pronunciation: [kuɾiɾ d maɾdi ɡɾa], French pronunciation: [kuʁiʁ də maʁdi ɡʁa]) is a traditional Mardi Gras event held in many Cajun and Creole communities of French Louisiana on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Courir de Mardi Gras is Louisiana French for "Fat Tuesday Run". Dance for a Chicken: The Cajun Mardi Gras. By Pat Mire . Mardi Gras celebrations assume the shape of a community and immediately reflect the strong conservative and innovative spirit needed for a healthy society. One Mardi Gras tradition which is often misunderstood and usually profoundly affects the sensibilities of outsiders is the rural Mardi Gras Tee Mamou courir de Mardi Gras in Iota will be held in Downtown Iota from 9 am to 5 pm Children's Parade starts at 12:30 pm. Downtown to Cajun Field in Lafayette; Krewe of Bonaparte Parade at This is grand Mamou Louisiana, early morning of the last day before lent. And in Cajun country, that means it’s time to run Mardi Gras. Tony reflected on his trip: “On balance, my Cajun For a large part of Louisiana, this isn’t the true Mardi Gras. We’re talking about local Cajun Mardi Gras—complete with a chicken chase! Cajun Mardi Gras, or Courir de Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday Run), has been a staple in southern Louisiana for hundreds of years. The tradition dates back to 17th-century Europe; Europeans who settled in the The annual Courir de Mardi Gras in Mamou, La., in February 2008. In the Cajun country tradition, revelers go house to house, collecting ingredients for gumbo from local families. Here, the host 7 a.m. - Mamou Courir de Mardi Gras leaves from the American Legion Hall on Main St. Performing at the Traffic Light on 6th & Main Streets 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Traditional Cajun Music Trailride leaves at 10 a.m. (Ride line up at 1008 7th St. - Mamou High School) All vehicles and floats must register. Only horses and floats on the ride - no atvs allowed All who run the Tee Mamou-Iota Mardi Gras must wear traditional handmade costumes and masks. The Mardi Gras suits fashioned of colorful or motley fabric and fringe are topped by the tall, coneshaped hat called a capuchon which dates back to medieval times and symbolizes a mockery of the nobility. Vacajun has grown from a few hundred costumes when it opened almost 20 years ago, to more than 1,300 costumes for the 2024 Carnival celebrations. The costume racks are topped with dozens of capuchons, the tall cone-shaped fringed hat of the Cajun Mardi Gras riders. The masks of the Courir de Mardi Gras cajun costumes and the courir de mardi gras
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