Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Chickens, courirs and community: A look at Mardi Gras festivities in rural Louisiana
Description
New Orleans Mardi Gras might be synonymous with krewes, floats, and throws, but in more rural areas of the state, carnival celebrations include riding horseback, catching chickens, and singing call and response French songs. Professor Emeritus of Francophone Studies and Center for Louisiana Studies Research Fellow at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Dr. Barry Ancelet, tells us more about Cajun Mardi Gras customs.
But perhaps no rural Mardi Gras celebration is more well known than the chicken chase. And in Eunice, Louisiana, children get a chance to catch a chicken of their own during Lil’ Mardi Gras. Eunice City Marshal Terry Darbone and Eunice Director of tourism and Main Street, Alicia Mire tell us more about the history of this event.
Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Patrick Madden and Stephanie Grace. Our producer is Alana Schreiber and our digital editor is Katelyn Umholtz. Our engineers are Garrett Pittman, Aubrey Procell, and Thomas Walsh.
You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at 12:00 and 7:30 pm. It’s available on Spotify, Google Play, and wherever you get your podcasts.
Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.