By most accounts, the history of Mardi Gras dates back to Roman times and the feast of Lupercalia. In an attempt to convert the pagans, the Catholic Church wove many of the customs of Lupercalia into its own activities. Mardi Gras became the time before Lent – forty days before Easter, when the church members feast and have fun before the abstinences and penances of Lent.
Known as Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras was big in France, and since southern Louisiana was settled by the French, it’s a particularly big festival here, dating locally to the late 1600s. The Mardi Gras colors are purple, gold and green, representing royalty, though costumes are varied and wildly colored.
Local history of the Mardi Gras Runs
In small towns in rural Louisiana, peasants dress up in silly costumes that make fun of those in authority – the royalty, clergy, and intelligentsia. Most costumes are pants and shirts with big fringes of multicolored fabrics. Often masks and hats are worn, especially the capuchon – a tall pointed hat representing royalty, and a mortarboard-style hat which represents the clergy. The green and gold and purple colors are everywhere.
Known as the Courir (the French word for “run”), or the Courir de Mardi Gras, Courir refers to the Mardi Gras run as a whole, and Les Mardi Gras refers to the riders. The Capitaine is the man who leads the way, and is the one in charge of keeping the group of Mardi Gras riders under control.
The riders start early. In costume, they wind through the countryside on horseback begging at each house for an ingredient for gumbo (a spicy chicken and sausage stew). Frequently the homeowners will throw the riders a chicken, which they must catch.
The riders on horseback are accompanied by wagons, which carry Cajun bands playing traditional songs. The bands have loudspeakers or some kind of PA system so that everyone can hear the music.
Nearly all the participants start drinking beer even before the run starts, and the beer consumption keeps up all day.
Normally outsiders are not allowed to join the riders themselves, but they are allowed to follow along behind the riders and wagons.
When the run is over (all the chickens have been caught and the ingredients for the gumbo have been collected), the riders and wagons head back into town to cook the gumbo and celebrate with a dance. If the run is held on Fat Tuesday itself, all celebrations must end at midnight, as Lent has started and “it’s time to repent”.
Mardi Gras Runs are traditionally held on Fat Tuesday, but these days many towns hold the Runs and Mardi Gras Balls throughout the several weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday.