Happy Mardi Gras, y’all! Today is Fat Tuesday, celebrated with parades and food and fun, the last day before Lent arrives, and we enter a season of penance and fasting. I decided to skip the New Orleans festivities this year and enjoy a quiet Mardi Gras; however, yesterday, my daughter invited me to go with her and her two children, Leo and Stella, to an event in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.
A few years ago I attended the “Courir de Mardi Gras” with my family in Eunice, Louisiana. I had some trouble with the drunken parade and abuse of chickens. This event in Breaux Bridge changed my view somewhat. It was specifically for the children, so the adults were drinking coffee and water and handing out snacks to their children. There was a chicken involved, but we were assured that the chicken was tame and would not be injured.
The costumes were fabulous and fun!
The history of the courir, which in Cajun French means run, dates back to before Louisiana became a part of the U.S., from a time when the Acadians came to Louisiana without much of anything but a promise of land. The small communities would celebrate Mardi Gras by having a chicken run. The idea was to go house to house to get all the ingredients for the gumbo. The gumbo would be shared by the community.
The Teche Center for the Arts recreated the courir specifically for children. El Capitaine, the leader, assigned the children to groups. It was a wild chase, for sure, but it was quick and usually ended with at least one child crying about being knocked in the head or not catching the chicken or, in Stella’s case, losing a shoe. We paraded house to house and shared in the tradition. This was more my style, watching the children, carrying their catches, and taking lots of photos and video.
Reflections on the Teche 
This makes me realize just how huge and gloriously diverse our country is! All the regional celebrations tied to history and culture are the best kind of not-for-eating gumbo!
I’m so glad this event could be re-interpreted for children and where you don’t have to feel bad for the chicken! What a treat to learn about this celebration from your post today.
I remember when a chicken was chased to provide the noon meal (back then called dinner) I noticed the children aren’t too eager to catch the chicken. It’s sweet the kids can participate.
Margaret, I’m glad you got to experience this gentler celebration with your sweet Stella and Leo. Those costumes are fabulous. I remember reading about the traumatized chickens and the traumatizing event from last year. So it was good to have this experience.
margaret,
These are fabulous photos. I’m so glad no chickens were injured or abused. I recalled a horrifying event from years ago when you mentioned hurting chickens. A kid brought a bunch of tiny chicks to school at the end of the year, dropped them in the commons area, and kicked them around. It was awful. He received some strict discipline as a consequence of his cruelty.
Yes, we met the chickens at the end and they seemed fine. Stella said, “Nice chicken.”
Margaret, I’m so glad this version was tamer and for the children, so you all enjoyed it. I love the bright colors in the masks and costumes. Wonderful that the four of you made good Mardi Gras memories, except for Stella losing a shoe. But that’s great that she said, “Nice chicken.” I enjoyed your post, thank you.
I love reading about all the different cultures within our country. It’s too bad we can’t celebrate differences rather than…okay, never mind! I love those masks and the idea of creating and sharing the soup as a community. But, I have to say, I still feel bad for that chicken!
Me too! But they caught it pretty quickly. Catch and release. No harm done.
It’s wonderful to have this festival focused on families, keeping the tradition but in a friendlier way. Thank you for sharing this calmer version. I remember seeing the Anthony Bordain episode about this festival and thinking that I never want to experience that! If you haven’t seen it: https://youtu.be/5Pb4w82OQg0?feature=shared
We know those people! Ha!