Mamou Mardi Gras 1952 -1980

Pics of Mamou Mardi Gras when it was still primarily locals participating.
Mamou is the home of the traditional Mardi Gras celebration called le Courir de Mardi Gras a Cheval (the Mardi Gras run on horseback). The men and boys ride horseback or in wagons into the countryside for 20 or 30 miles, stopping at farm houses asking for donations of chickens and rice for the gumbo to be made at the end of the day. At every house they stop they have to do a Mardi Gras dance, it is a trade; entertainment for a food donation(they dance for their supper-so to speak.) When the donation is a hen or rooster, it usually has to be caught by the riders.
The Mardi Gras in this area dates back before the Civil War. It was not held for many years (dormant during WWII) and then it was reorganized in 1953 by Paul Tate, Sr. and Revon Reed. The plan was hatched at the now famouse "Fred's Lounge."
It is a very popular celebration and thousands of spectators visit Mamou every year to witness this traditional, festival event.
Mardis Gras, french for " Fat Tuesday" is celebrated the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (the first day of the Lenten season.) Fat Tuesday is a day of enjoying yourself with food and celebration before the fasting of the Lenten season begins to prepare us for Easter.
In Mamou and surrounding areas Cajuns go to the country on horseback for Mardi Gras day. People come from all over to watch the riders start their run. They are also there to greet them after their run. There is a big dance and gumbo that night made fom the food donation collected by the Mardi Gras runners