The owner will throw the live chicken into the crowd for the riders to chase and catch with their bare hands. Some Courir de Mardi Gras celebrations include a chicken chase for the kids. Cajun Mardi Gras is a “joie de vivre” (French for celebration of life). Every local and tourist should experience the tradition at least once. Mardi Gras is THE holiday when it comes to Mamou, La. Hundreds of people flock to 6th street from all over the state and even from other states, but you won't find parades or beads here. In Mamou, residents hold tightly their Cajun traditions, the most infamous, the Courir de Mardi Gras. For boys an Watch the Courir de Mardi Gras in Mamou. The ride will last for hours, stopping at homes and businesses for dancing and a chicken chase. The horseback riders are followed by more participants in cars, pickups and trailers, some loaded with barbecue pits and live music. The courir de mardi gras in pictures 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. Beads and elaborate balls usually come to mind when people hear "Mardi Gras". But country folk typically celebrate the more traditional Courir de Mardi Gras A cajun band plays for the Mardi Gras and the farm owners after a stop to sing, dance and chase a chicken during the Tee Mamou Women's Courir de Mardi Gras, Saturday, March 1, 2025. The last ingredient, and the highlight of the entire celebration, is the chicken. Courir de Mardi Gras - Running All attention is on that chicken, so it's a thrill to watch costumed revelers chase after that chicken, the highlight of the communial gumbo. A parade of people follows the Mardi Gras in cars and four-wheelers as the colorfully-dressed men trot around town and chase chickens. "We come to celebrate Mardi Gras every year in Mamou - the Mardi Gras in Mamou would not be complete without dancing; there was plenty of it and room for parade-goers to jump in. “I’m trying to learn,” Vingerhoets added. “I’m observing. The highlight of the day is the Courir de Mardi Gras, or Mardi Gras Run, which is a parade of sorts where participants dress up in costumes and masks and chase after a live chicken. The goal is to catch the chicken and bring it back to the starting point, where it will be cooked and eaten as part of the day’s festivities. If you’re looking The main event of Mardi Gras is the Carnival parade, which features costumes, floats, and music. One of the most popular aspects of the Carnival parade is the mardi gras chicken chase. The mardi gras chicken chase is a tradition that dates back to the 19th century. 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 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. It's commonly referred to as "the real Mardi Gras." The main event in a Cajun Country Mardi Gras is the traditional courir or “run” led by the capitaine of the Mardi Gras Mamou Mardi Gras in downtown Mamou the Basile Mardi Gras Association will begin the run through the historic village and will end with the famous chicken chase for children. Lebeau Mardi In 2002, masked and costumed men got on their horses or roamed around on foot, chanting the Lejeune Cove Mardi Gras song for the first time in nearly 50 years. On the Saturday before Mardi Gras, this run features a traditional chicken chase, costumes, and Cajun music. 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 The chicken run is just one of the many traditions that make Mardi Gras such a unique and special event. If you’re ever in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, be sure to check out a chicken run! One of the most bizarre holiday traditions is the Chicken Run, also known as the Courir de Mardi Gras. It also involves dressing up as colorful characters Likewise, Cajun traditions such as the chicken chase, or courir de Mardi Gras, use horses, mules, and an occasional jackass as modes of transportation. Horses are a part of the way of life for many in these communities and most take great pride in raising a good animal. Mardi Gras wait for the next stop during the Tee Mamou Women’s Courir ran Saturday, February 22, 2020 in the small community of Tee Mamou, just south of Basile, La. MAMOU, La. (WAFB) - With the stench of stale beer still in the air from the night before, the sound of a fiddle makes its way over the crowd, signaling the start of Mardi Gras in Mamou.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |