Lady Onogaro
January 29th, 2016, 04:53 PM
Well, it's that time again! Here's the Mardi Gras Parade Schedule for Lafayette (and surrounding areas): http://www.mardigraslafayette.com/parades.htm
I've gotten a bit weary of the urban/city parades. I like the rural courirs better. Here's some information on the the City of Eunice's courir des Mardi Gras: http://www.eunice-la.com/index.php/things-to-do/upcoming-events/mardi-gras
Not many people outside of Cajun country know about courirs, so I always like to share information about them. Here's an article from National Geographic: http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2014/03/04/mardi-gras-from-louisianas-cajun-country/
You also Google images of courir riders (the courir riders are called "mardi gras").
Although most of the articles suggest that the courirs are exclusive to men, you should know that there are courirs for women (they are known to be wilder than the men). Think about about it: 30-50 people on horseback, drinking from 6 a.m. until ???? Some of the cities now forbid horseback riders because of the rowdy drinking--too many yards were getting trampled and too many people were falling off of horses. On the other hand, they have had a problem with people literally falling off the wagon and being hurt and even killed when they fell under the wheels of a tractor-drawn wagon following theirs. So these parades do come with risks, sometimes.
Most of the courirs include city or town festivals, with products made by church ladies and church organizations (pickled okra, canned figs, crafts, etc.). The Eunice and Tee Mamou/Iota Mardi Gras festivals have very nice old time fairs with crafts, music, dancing, etc.
Y'all come. Laissez les bon temps rouler!
I've gotten a bit weary of the urban/city parades. I like the rural courirs better. Here's some information on the the City of Eunice's courir des Mardi Gras: http://www.eunice-la.com/index.php/things-to-do/upcoming-events/mardi-gras
Not many people outside of Cajun country know about courirs, so I always like to share information about them. Here's an article from National Geographic: http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2014/03/04/mardi-gras-from-louisianas-cajun-country/
You also Google images of courir riders (the courir riders are called "mardi gras").
Although most of the articles suggest that the courirs are exclusive to men, you should know that there are courirs for women (they are known to be wilder than the men). Think about about it: 30-50 people on horseback, drinking from 6 a.m. until ???? Some of the cities now forbid horseback riders because of the rowdy drinking--too many yards were getting trampled and too many people were falling off of horses. On the other hand, they have had a problem with people literally falling off the wagon and being hurt and even killed when they fell under the wheels of a tractor-drawn wagon following theirs. So these parades do come with risks, sometimes.
Most of the courirs include city or town festivals, with products made by church ladies and church organizations (pickled okra, canned figs, crafts, etc.). The Eunice and Tee Mamou/Iota Mardi Gras festivals have very nice old time fairs with crafts, music, dancing, etc.
Y'all come. Laissez les bon temps rouler!