Big Fat Tuesday in tiny Iota, Louisiana Part 3

Iota, Louisiana
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
"Fat Tuesday", Mardi Gras Day, Courir de Mardi Gras

PART 3

3:30 PM. A convoy of police cruisers, sirens screeching, announces that the Courir de Mardi Gras has returned from begging in the countryside. The crowd pulls back like the Red Sea and stands three deep at the side of the street. Many of them wave and shout to friends or relatives who fill the three colorful wagons rolling down Duson Avenue.

 
Joyous bedlam - sirens braying, band playing, Mardi Gras celebrants shouting and banging on the sides of the trucks carrying them triumphantly through town.

 

Twenty minutes later, the Courir crowd, adults and youngsters, gathers on the dance stage.

Under the leadership of two capitaines, they sing The Mardi Gras Song. For some, it may have been their first courir. Learning every verse is required, though anyone growing up in southwest Louisiana knows the song by heart, and probably learned it before The Star Spangled Banner.

Photos by Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.

MORE MARDI GRAS SCENES FROM IOTA

 

One red-feathered chicken, a symbol of a successful "courir", is held aloft for all to see (L). The chickens in the cage in the truck bed will benefit from release back to their roosts, not be cooked up in the ceremonial gumbo as in days of yore.

 

Snapshots of the parade.

After dismounting from the trucks, celebrants mounted the raised dance floor to beg and dance.

Once the Mardi Gras Song is sung, the revelers descend into the street. A masked reveler's right index finger taps the palm of his left hand, I hand over a dollar. As a reward, pt gets a piece of hard candy!

There's that chicken again! Only after the Mardi Gras Song and ritual begging and dancing in the street are celebrants permitted to remove their home made masks and capuchons (hats).

Serendipity strikes. As the revelers disband, I chat with  a woman who's just "unmasked".
"Did you know there's a women's courir, too? My grandmother began it thirty years ago. I've been doing it for years," Monica Frugé informs me. She introduces me to her son, Trever Frugé.

Amazing. The first "Capitaine" for the women's courir was Gerald Frugé.
 

 

Comments

[Carole Blossom]

Cute picture of you holding the candy you gave one dollar to receive. Small pleasures are treasures :) Ms. Blossom

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.]

And just a minute after that, i met Monica Frugé whose grandmother was instrumental in organizing the first women's courir, which runs on the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. I might try to write about that next year:)

[Bob LeJeune]

While looking for photographs and history of Iota Mardi Gras, I came upon your adventure. I was born and raised in Iota, now in San Antonio,TX. Writing a History of Iota book, a chapter on Mardi Gras.  I would like your permission to use some of the material above.  P.S. Larry Miller is a 3rd cousin.

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr aka pt at large]

Bob,
I remember Larry Miller made an announcement from the stage, said you were compiling a history of Iota, asked people to contact you regarding their family history. I'll bet Monica Frugé's family will be represented in your history.
Thanks for contacting me, thanks for agreeing give me attribution when you use any of my work in your book. I'm looking forward to the book, intend to buy one when you're done!
Best regards,
Paul

[Bob LeJeune]

Paul:
Thank you.  I will certainly credit your blog in the Mardi Gras chapter. Which of Monica's grandmother did she credit for starting the Women's COURIR?  Was it GM Vasseir. or GM Ardoin?  I plan on going to Iota next week, and will talk with Larry again.  He's the expert on the Mardi Gras history.  I would welcome the photographs.  Those not used in the book will be donated to the Iota Branch of the Acadia Parish Library for the Genealogy papers I have accumulated for the past 12 years since retirement.
Bob L.