Editing Cajuns (section)

====Mardi Gras====
{{Main|Courir de Mardi Gras}}
[[File:Courir de Mardi Gras Savoy La Musicians HROE.jpg|thumb|Musicians playing at a traditional ''Courir de Mardi Gras'']]

''[[Mardi Gras]]'' (French for "Fat Tuesday", also known as [[Shrove Tuesday]]) is the day before [[Ash Wednesday]], which marks the beginning of [[Lent]], a 40-day period of fasting and reflection in preparation for [[Easter Sunday]]. Mardi Gras was historically a time to use up the foods that were not to be used during Lent, including fat, eggs, and meat.

Mardi Gras celebrations in rural Acadiana are distinct from the more widely known celebrations in [[New Orleans Mardi Gras|New Orleans]] and other metropolitan areas. A distinct feature of the Cajun celebration centers on the ''[[Courir de Mardi Gras]]'' (translated: fat Tuesday run).<ref name=COURIR>{{cite book|title=Mardi Gras: a Cajun country celebration|url=https://archive.org/details/mardigrascajunco00hoyt|url-access=registration|quote=fête de la quémande.|first1=Diane|last1=Hoyt-Goldsmith|first2=Lawrence|last2=Migdale|publisher=Holiday House|date=September 1995|page=[https://archive.org/details/mardigrascajunco00hoyt/page/11 11]|isbn=978-0-8234-1184-9}}</ref> A group of men, usually on horseback and wearing [[capuchon]]s (a cone-shaped ceremonial hat) and traditional costumes, approach a farmhouse and ask for something for the community gumbo pot. Often, the farmer or his wife allows the riders to have a chicken, if they can catch it. The group then puts on a show, comically attempting to catch the chicken set out in a large open area. Songs are sung, jokes are told, and skits are acted out. When the chicken is caught, it is added to the pot at the end of the day.<ref name=COURIR/> The ''courir'' held in the small town of [[Mamou, Louisiana|Mamou]] and [[Church Point, Louisiana|Church Point]] has become well known. This tradition has much in common with the observance of ''La Chandeleur'', or [[Candlemas]] (February 2), by Acadians in [[Nova Scotia]].