As exemplified in the saying “Laissez les bons temps rouler,” French for “Let the good time role,” Cajuns have the reputation of loving to have fun! Although Louisiana Cajuns enjoy kicking back and enjoying themselves, they are also hard-working, deeply religious, and enthusiastic outdoorsmen. They are proud of their heritage and the traditions passed down to them over the generations.

Religion

The traditional faith for most Cajuns is Catholicism. Especially when I was growing up in the 1940s and 50s, the St. Martin dr Tours Church was the center of the town’s spiritual and social life.

In May, the whole town attended the crowning of the Blessed Virgin, followed by a procession through the main part of the town of, with school children scattering flower petals in the path of the Virgin. Today, the procession has transformed into a boat parade which takes place on the Bayou Teche.

Outdoor Life

Cajuns enjoy being outdoors and getting back to nature. They enjoy hunting ducks, squirrels, deer, alligators, and frogs. Some hunters hunt and fish for subsistence, but mostly they hunt and fish for sport and for being outdoors in nature. Some people get away from it all in their houseboats or just cruising around the bayous or swamps in a kayak or pirogue. Many also enjoy just sitting in a quiet spot along the bayou, watching the water go by, ever gentle and slow moving, rarely rushing, making its way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Traditions and Holidays

Mardis Gras is the most popular holiday for most Cajuns, and it falls on the day before the Lenten season begins. It represents the last opportunity to have fun and indulge the senses before the 40 day period of penance in preparation for the celebration of Easter.

Each small town in rural Louisiana celebrates Mardis Gras differently. Some areas have a parade, others have a formal ball with a King and a Queen chosen from the local population. In St. Landry Parish the day starts with a trail ride around the countryside where costumed riders collect the ingredients for a communal gumbo, to be served in the evening. Catching the chicken for the gumbo pot is part of the ritual in some areas, and an occasion for revelry and fun.

Fais Do Do Dance and Community Celebrations

A Fais Do Do is a dance, held out of doors or a community location like a barn or a pavilion. People of all ages come to the gathering, including children. When it starts to get late, mothers tell their babies “Fais Do Do” which is French for “go to sleep” so they can continue to dance and visit with their friends long into the night. A Fais Do Do is often held to celebrate a community event, such as the harvesting of a crop or other accomplishments. In Louisiana, each crop has its own festival, such as the sugar, cotton, rice, and yam festivals. Sometimes there was a parade or fair, but the best part of the celebration was always the Fais Do Do!