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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". What Is a Courir de Mardi Gras Celebration? This one-of-a-kind Mardi Gras celebration is older than the state itself. Even among born-and-bred Louisianians, not many have joined this centuries-old party in St. Landry Parish. The Courir de Mardi Gras festivities originated in medieval France, and its many fêtes come together in a celebration on Courir de Mardi Gras' medieval European roots. Courir de Mardi Gras is rooted in French medieval history and is comprised of many rituals in order to celebrate Fat Tuesday, which is a holiday that 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 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 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). “Le Chanson de Mardi Gras” is a droning, solemn-sounding piece of music with both Cajun and Creole versions that is the unofficial anthem of the rural Mardi Gras. Many local courirs, trail rides, or gatherings in respective communities have a version of this song that shares the same themes and messages. Participants in the Church Point Mardi Gras Courir hitch rides on trailers between the stops of the Church Point Courir de Mardi Gras, Sunday, February 27, 2022. PHOTO BY ROBIN MAY. The Courir de Mardi Gras in Church Point adheres to tradition—only men are allowed to participate and they must don a mask and a costume. The event was revived in 1968, when it was established that it would be held on the Sunday before Mardi Gras day in order to not interfere with surrounding runs. Courir de Mardi Gras varies from town to town, but a few elements tie each celebration together: booze, colourful costumes, and more booze. By Jamie Clifton. February 18, 2025, 12:15pm. Courir de Mardi Gras and parade in Church Point. Courir kicks of at 8 am and ends downtown at a parade at 1:30 pm; MARCH 4, 2025. Tee Mamou courir de Mardi Gras in Iota will be held in Downtown Seventy or so residents gather at the Basile Pig Barn on Feb. 25 (Mardi Gras Day) at 7 a.m., for the town’s traditional Courir de Mardi Gras. The run was suspended during World War II, but had a revival in the 1960s. While many towns only allow men to be runners, in Basile, women can run and serve as capitaines. In Cajun and Creole's Mardi Gras, gone are the floats and in their place is the Courir de Mardi Gras, or the Mardi Gras run for the Cajuns and the trail ride among the Creoles. T he courir de Mardi Gras (literally to “run” Mardi Gras) is a rural and lesser-known Cajun counterpart to urban celebrations of Fat Tuesday in such cities as New Orleans and Lafayette. For the courir , disguised revelers convene before dawn at a predetermined locale, typically a participant’s farmstead. In the lead up to Mardi Gras season, I welcome Harry Parsons to Triclinium, to tell us about the history of the Cajun Courir de Mardi Gras. Thanks for sharing your post with us, Harry. Cajun Mardi Gras: Courir de Mardi Gras When you think of Mardi Gras, what comes immediately to mind? Sunday, March 2 – 63rd Annual Church Point Saddle Tramp Rider’s Club Courir de Mardi Gras – 1036 E Ebey – Saddle Tramp Clubhouse, Church Point.Courir begins at 8 a.m. and ends downtown for The courir de Mardi Gras, or “Mardi Gras run,” is a longtime tradition for Louisiana’s Cajun Country. Inspired by celebrations from France, the event entails costumes and mischief. Participants wear costumes meant to mock the aristocracy while visiting homes, begging for gumbo ingredients. The runners, as they’re also known, chase 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, sometimes 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. Cajun Mardi Gras, also known as Courir de Mardi Gras, involves all-day pig roasts and a parade where people chase chickens. Courir de Mardi Gras is the holiday like you’ve never seen it before. Courir de Mardi Gras is an old tradition in rural Louisiana. From early morning on, costumed revelers go house to house, drinking, singing and collecting ingredients for a big ole pot of gumbo.
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