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Ever wondered why a captain on horseback waves a flag before a masked crowd sprints across a pasture after a chicken? We pull back the mask on Cajun country’s Courir de Mardi Gras, a living tradition with medieval French roots that still thrives in towns like Church Point, Eunice, and Mamou. This isn’t the spectacle of big-city floats. It’s door-to-door permission, fiddle-fueled dancing, and a community remembering how to feast together before Lent.

We share what makes the run so different: scrap-built costumes with streaming fringe, wire masks that level status, and a playful send-up of royal hats. The captain’s role anchors the day—no entry without the ask, no revelry without the flag. Then comes the lore in motion: begging for rice or meat, retold as a chase for the chicken that once went straight into the gumbo pot. Along the way, each town adds its own cadence, with distinct chants and calls that keep local identity strong within a shared ritual.

You’ll also hear why the children’s run steals the show. Color-coded flags, no alcohol, careful staging, and wide-eyed kids in tiny costumes keep the culture alive with joy and care. As the main parade grows, safety rules evolve—simpler floats, clearer routes—so elders on bus rows and visitors from Canada or Ireland can catch beads and stories in equal measure. Planning a trip? Bring boots, start early, and pace yourself. Whether you stand at the fence line or fall into a line dance, you’ll leave with music in your head and a better sense of what community can be when everyone is equal behind a mask.

Love cultural deep dives and small-town traditions with big heart? Follow the show, share this episode with a friend who needs a road trip idea, and leave a quick review so more folks can find us.

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