Church Point Mardi Gras

Founders of the Courir De Mardi Gras of Church Point and Mamou                       

Elton Richard (left image) first formally organized the Church Point Courir de Mardi Gras in 1961. Until that point individual groups of men would ride horse back through the country on Mardi Gras Day begging for ingredients,or money with which to buy ingredients, for a communal gumbo. The first organized courir included approximately 400 horsemen. Elton Richard of Church Point and Senator Paul Tate (right image) of Mamou decided that each town needed its own courir and they flipped a coin to decide which town would have its courir on Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras Day, or on the Sunday before Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras, the French term for Fat Tuesday, is held on the eve of the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday.  The results of the toss determined that Mamou would conduct its courir on Mardi Gras Day and the Church Point courir would take place on the Sunday before Mardi Gras.

On Louisiana's Cajun Prairie northwest of Lafayette, the annual celebration before the beginning of Lent takes on a completely different form. The first Acadians brought "Le Courir de Mardi Gras" or the "Running of the Mardi Gras" to French Louisiana when they immigrated to the area in the 1750's. The custom of European peasants merrymaking before a period of fasting and penitence was handed to them from medieval times and was practiced by the Romans before then.

Traditionally, the rural Mardi Gras of today in Church Point is the same as it was in the old days of the early settlers. Men only can participate in the Courir (run). Tradition requires that all Mardi Gras be fully masked and costumed.

Le Capitaine (The Captain) heads the group and he and his assistances must ride unmasked. The first Capitaine was the founder of the Church Point Mardi Gras. The Capitaine is allowed to retain his title year after year until he chooses to relinquish it and then hands it down to the man of his choice. Each year the Capitaine appoints his co-capitains for the run that year.

The object of the Courir is to go from farm to farm on horseback or by wagon and collect ingredients for a communal gumbo to be served at the Church Point Saddle Tramp Riders Club. The meal is accompanied by live Cajun french music and dancing.
	Near Sunrise, M'sieur Le Capitaine puts on his voluminous green, gold and purple cape. Each color has it's own meaning, green for faith, gold for power and purple for justice. He sounds his "Corne de Vache" (cow horn trumpet) and the men in Capuchons (conical hats) and handmade costumes depart on horseback and wagons towards the farms and settlements.
As the Capitaine approaches each farm he request in French, "Voulez-vous recevoir cete bande de Mardi Gras?" to which the reply is "Oui, M'sieur". With that the Capitaine raises his white flag of friendship and the Mardi Gras' enter the farm. The farmer throws a chicken in the air and the Mardi Gras' try and catch it for the gumbo. They also sing and dance with the farmer's wife and daughters.
	After many miles and many stops at farm houses, the riders return to the Church Point Saddle Tramp Riders Club with their bounty. Upon their return awards are presented in the following categories: Most Original Costume, Prettiest Mardi Gras, Ugliest Mardi Gras, Best All Around Mardi Gras and for Most Chickens Caught.

The Original Church Point Courir de Mardis Gras Song!

La Chanson De Mardi Gras

( The Mardi Gras Song ) 

Les Mardi Gras demande main la rentree-zaumaltre et la maitresse
(The Mardi Gras are asking the master and mistress.)

 

Ce demande mais la rentre-z-avec tout less politesses.
(They are asking this with all politness.)

 

Donnez-nous autre une 'tite poule gras l'our qu'on se fait un gumbo gras,
(Give us one small fat chicken, so we can make a fat gumbo,)

 

Donnez-nous autre une 'tite poule gras; mais a l'entour du moyeu.
(Give us one small fat chicken; but all around the hub.)

 

Donnez-nous autre un peu de la graisse, si'l vous plait mon cher ami;
(Give us a little bit of grease, if you please my dear friend;)

 

Mais donnez-nous autre un peu de riz; mais tout a l'entour, mon ami.
(But give us little bit of rice, around the hub my good friend.)

 

Les Mardi Gras vous remerci bien pour votre volant'e.
(The Mardi Gras' thank you very much for your willingness.)

 

Capitaine, Capitaine, voyage ton flag, allons se metre dessus le chemin.
(Captain, Captain, wave your flag, let us get on the road.)

 

Capitaine, Capitaine, voyage ton flag, allon aller chez l'autre voisin.
(Captain, Captain, waver your flag, let us go to the other neighbors.)

 

Les Mardi Gras se rassemble une fois par an, pour demander la charite';
(The Mardi Gras' assemble once a year to ask for charity;)

 

Ca va-z-aller de prote en porte, tout a l'entour de moyeu
(They'll go from door to door all around the hub.)

 

Les Mardi Gras devient de tout partout, oui, mon cher comarade;
(The Mardi Gras' come from everywhere, yes, my dear comrade;)

 

Les Mardi Gras devient de tout partout, mais a l'entour du moyeu.
(The Mardi Gras' come from everywhere, but all around the hub.)

 

Voulez-vous recevoit mais cette bande de Mardi Gras?
(Would you like to receive this band of Mardi Gras?)