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 In Louisiana's Cajun country, a traditional Mardi Gras is much different than what you might expect. Come along on a traditional "courir," or Mardi Gras run 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 Before the the Mardi Gras parade approaches the house, the Capitaine approaches the home alone. When the neighbor says it's okay for the group to approach, the Capitaine waves his flag and traditional Mardi Gras songs are sung. "There are usually a lot of practical jokes that go along with this tradition, and even some wrestling," Fontenot added. For some, it might simply be a fun and festive way to celebrate Mardi Gras; for others, it might have a more spiritual or religious meaning. Whatever the case may be, chasing a chicken on Mardi Gras is sure to be a memorable experience! Courir de mardi gras is a Cajun and Creole celebration that has been around for hundreds of years. As part of 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 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. Philip Bordelon says he’s been part of the Mardi Gras tradition for years. In fact, Bordelon used to chase the chickens. “Oh yes ma’am. yeah, when I was younger," he said. The music performances feature an elaborate fiddle tune and also display the pulsing rhythms of a live performance at a dance hall. The Mardi Gras gathering on the dusty roads culminates to the chasing of a chicken for the gumbo pot. Produced and directed by Nicholas R. Spitzer, 1981. But I bet you haven’t heard of the Cajun Country Mardi gras festival known as “Courir de Mardi Gras” (roughly translates as “the run of the Mardi Gras”). This local festival is completely different from the New Orleans Mardi gras festival with all those beautiful floats, beads, masks, and rally. Check out our mardi gras chasing chicken selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our digital shops. 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". Chicken chasing, colorful costumes and dancing on horseback? It's a rural Mardi Gras in Louisiana! For more: lov A Mardi Gras leaps for a chicken. Bryan Tarnowski hide caption. toggle caption. Bryan Tarnowski Early in The Mardi Gras run through an open field chasing down another chicken. Runners, known as Mardi Gras, ride horses or wagons through the countryside stopping to beg at farms for ingredients for a communal gumbo to be made after the run. The most common offering from the farmers is a chicken which then must be chased and captured by the Mardi Gras. (click here to find out more on Mardi Gras outside of New Orleans) The Tee Mamou Women’s Courir ran Saturday, February 22, 2020 in the small community of Tee Mamou, just south of Basile, La. The Courir started in the 1970’s and now has up to 40 riders. On Mardi Gras day in Acadiana, farmstead coops and kitchens are likely to be raided by a drunken band of masked marauders on horseback out to beg for–or steal–all gumbo ingredients in sight. Rural Mardi Gras celebrations of the south Louisiana prairie differ greatly from their carnival counterparts in New Orleans or even Lafayette. 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 However, just as soon as Christmas is over, die-hard Mardi Gras fans turn their attention to another celebration where gumbo is an even bigger deal: the Courir de Mardi Gras. The Courir de Mardi Gras, also known as the Mardi Gras Run, Cajun Mardi Gras or chicken run, is one of the most bizarre communal events of the holiday, especially when it Check out our mardi gras chasing a chicken selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our drawings & sketches shops.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |