Skip to main content
SIGN IN

Lesson

Cajun and Creole Culture: Food, Music, Dance

Cajun and Zydeco Music: Flavors of Southwest Louisiana (6-8) / Cajun and Creole Culture: Food, Music, Dance

Music, food, and dance are the ingredients of Cajun and Creole cultures. Cooking a gumbo is so much more than just preparing a meal; it’s a way to feed an entire community. People gather together to play music all day while the gumbo cooks. Cajun and zydeco music scenes are social traditions; the songs are meant for people to play and dance together. Whether at a traditional bal de maison, Fais Do-Do, in a dance hall, at the uniquely important Cajun Mardi Gras celebration, or at a modern-day festival, dancing is a central pastime for many Cajuns and Creoles and a part of daily life. This lesson explores the intersection of food, music, and dance in Cajun & Creole cultures. Learn about the unique importance of Cajun Mardi Gras, analyze several versions of “The Mardi Gras Song,” and then perform it yourself.

Lesson Paths & Learning Objectives

  1. Food, Dance, and Music as Culture

    • Describe some of the ways in which food, dance, and music interact in Cajun & Creole cultures.
    • 20+ minutes

  2. Cajun & Creole Mardi Gras

    • Identify and describe the context within which “The Mardi Gras Song” is traditionally sung in Southwest Louisiana.
    • Describe the ways in which music elements and expressive qualities are used in three versions of the same song.
    • Demonstrate understanding of factors that affect our personal preferences for music.
    • 30+ minutes

  3. Learning “the Mardi Gras Song”

    • Explain the lyrical meaning of “The Mardi Gras Song.”
    • Interpret and perform “The Mardi Gras Song.”
    • 30+ minutes

More +
Less -

Bibliography

Text

Balfa, Dewey, and Tracy Schwarz. 1976. Liner Notes for Traditional Cajun Fiddle: Instruction. Folkways Records FW08361.

Caffery, Joshua Clegg. 2012. “The Folk Etymology of the Fais Do-Do: A Note.” Folklife in Louisiana.

“‘Courir de Mardi Gras.” n.d. Wikipedia. Accessed March 24, 2022.

 

Dôle, Gérard. 1990. Liner Notes for Cajun Social Music. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings SFW40006.

Farr, Mollie. "Personal Preferences Worksheet," 2020, worksheet. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

Farr, Mollie. "Mardi Gras Song Attentive Listening," 2020, worksheet. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

“Gumbo.” n.d. Wikipedia. Accessed March 24, 2022.

 

Hunt, Marjorie. 2017, June 14. “The Heart of our Culture: Cajun Music of Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet.” 2017 Folklife Festival.” 2017 Folklife Festival (blog). Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

"J'ai Ete Au Bal," trad., lyrics. In J'ai été au bal (I Went to the Dance), Vol. 1, as performed by Iry LeJeune. Arhoolie Records, 1990. Translation by Ann Allen Savoy. Lyrics worksheet prepared by Mollie Farr.

"The Mardi Gras Song (La Danse De Mardi Gras)," trad., lyrics. In Live! At The Dance, as performed by The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band. Arhoolie Records, 1994. Translation by Ann Allen Savoy. Lyrics, pronunciation, chords, and translation guide prepared by Mollie Farr.

Savoy, Ann. 1987. Cajun Music: A Reflection of the People. Eunice, LA: Bluebird Press.

Audio*

Chenier, Clifton. "Crawfish Jambalaya." On Out West, recorded 1973. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00350_114, 1991, streaming audio.

LeJeune, Iry. "J'ai Été Au Bal (I Went to the Dance)." On J'ai été au bal (I Went to the Dance), Vol. 1, recorded 1949. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00331_125, 1990, streaming audio.

Mouton, Walter and The Scott Playboys. "Convict Waltz." On J'ai été au bal (I Went to the Dance), Vol. 1. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00331_102, 1990, streaming audio.

Balfa, Dewey and Tony and Tracy and Peter Schwarz. "Mardi Gras Song." On Les quatre vieux garçons. New York City, NY: Folkways Records, FW02626_201, 1984, streaming audio.

Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band. "La danse de Mardi Gras (the Mardi Gras Dance)." On Live! At The Dance, recorded 1994. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00418_110, 1994, streaming audio.

Pine Leaf Boys. "Creole Mardi Gras." On Blues de musicien. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00533_111, 2007, streaming audio.

Beausoleil. "Leger's Chase (the Mardi Gras Song)." On The Best of Beausoleil, recorded 1995. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00458_111, 1997, streaming audio.

Farr, Mollie. "Pronunciation Recordings: Lesson 10." recorded 2021. streaming audio.

Video*

Fowler, Ken, producer. Michael Doucet. Recorded 1996, hosted by Gus Weill. Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Aired February 14, 1996. Video, 26:36:00. Accessed via Louisiana Digital Media Archives.

Sills, Marsha, producer. Learn to Dance the Cajun Waltz. Recorded n.d. Lafayette, LA: Daily Advertiser. Video, 2:11. Streamed via YouTube.

Louisiana Educational Television Authority. Le Courir de Mardi Gras. Lynn Dur and Stuart Bergen, hosts. Recorded 1975. Louisiana Public Broadcasting, video, 15:19. Accessed via Louisiana Digital Media Archives.

Louisiana Educational Television Authority. 1978. "Festivals Acadiens in Lafayette." Video, 05:08. Hosted by Ron Blome and Beth George. Retrieved from the Louisiana Digital Media Archive. Additional resource; not in slideshow.

Louisiana Educational Television Authority. 2016. "Mamou Mardi Gras Postcard." Video, 02:13. Hosted by Charlie Whinham. Retrieved from the Louisiana Digital Media Archive. Additional resource; not in slideshow.

Louisiana Education Television Authority. 1979. "Mardi Gras." Video, 05:52. Hosted by Beth George. Retrieved from the Louisiana Digital Media Archive.

Images*

Erskine, Reed and Susan. "Clifton Chenier," 1974, photograph. Washington, DC: Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Smithsonian Institution. Taken at the 1974 American Folklife Festival. Provided by the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, CFCH-FAF1974_0193.

Savoy, Gabrielle. "Mardi Gras Boys," 2015, photograph. Personal collection.

Miller, Mark. "Gumbo," 2013, photograph. Wikimedia Commons.

Cooper, B. Donna. "Cracklins!," photograph. Flickr, November 27, 2010.

Ford, Jerome. "Acadian to Cajun Mural," mural. In St. Landry Parish Visitor Center. Opelousas, LA: St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission, n.d.

Hernandez, Gisele. "Cajun and Zydeco Word Cloud," 2021, digital image. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

Lee, Russell. "[Untitled Photo, Possibly Related To: Fais-Do-Do Dance. Crowley, Louisiana]," 1938, photograph negative. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives.

Pope, Wayne, designer. Out West, by Clifton Chenier. Michael Zigaris, photographer. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 1991, album cover.

Unknown photographer. "Crawfish Eating Contest," n.d., photograph. In Louisiana Folklife Photo Gallery. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana Folklife Program. Courtesy of Louisiana Office of Tourism.

Jimmy Emerson, DVM. "Cracklins," 2007, photograph. Flickr.

Nsaum75. "Smoked Boudin Blanc," 2009, photograph. Wikimedia Commons.

Hingle, Rob. "Louisiana Crawfish," 2005, photograph. Wikimedia Commons, 2009. File upload Bot (Magnus Manske).

Miller, Mark. "Homemade Jambalaya," 2014, photograph. Wikimedia Commons.

Spitzer, Nicholas R. "Creole Mardi Gras," n.d., photograph. In Louisiana Folklife Photo Gallery. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana Folklife Program. Courtesy of Louisiana Office of Tourism.

Roe, Herb. "Lakeview Boucherie," 2013, photograph. Wikimedia Commons.

Lee, Russell. "Corner of Dance Hall Reserved for Checking Children While Parents Dance Fais-Do-Do Dance," 1938, photograph negative. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives.

Lee, Russell. "Fais-Do-Do Dance. Cajun Girls. Crowley, Louisiana," 1938, photograph negative. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives.

Anderson, Nancy Jean, designer. Cajun Social Music. Philip Gould, photographer. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 1990, album cover.

Clyne, Ronald, designer. The Cajun Swing. Sam Charters, photographer. New York City, NY: Folkways Records, 1980, album cover.

Spivak, Max. Mardi Gras, ca. 1935-1943, oil on canvas. Washington, DC: Smithsonian American Art Museum, 60 x 114 1/4 in. (152.4 x 290.1 cm.). Transferred from the Newark Museum.

Unknown maker. "Mardi Gras Headdress," n.d., clothing. Washington, DC: Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Unknown maker. "Mardi Gras Beads," n.d., clothing. Washington, DC: Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Say-Mars-Say-Yeah. "Marseille Carnival Sun and Moon," 2009, photograph. Wikimedia Commons, 2010.

Ji-Elle. "Mardi Gras Dakar," photograph. Wikimedia Commons, 2007.

Gresasc. "Panorama do Sambódromo da Marquês de Sapuca," photograph. Wikimedia Commons, 2017.

Jean-Marc, Jo BeLo and Jhon-John. "Orange Carnival Masqueraders in Trinidad," photograph. Wikimedia Commons, 2006.

Infrogmation of New Orleans. "Mardi Gras Day 2019 in New Orleans," 2019, photograph. Wikimedia Commons.

Owens, Maida. "Tee Mamou Mardi Gras, Men's Run," 1993, photograph. In Louisiana Folklife Photo Gallery. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana Folklife Program. Courtesy of Louisiana Office of Tourism.

Roe, Herb. "Courir Run," 2010, photograph. Wikimedia Commons.

Schulze, John W. "Courir De Mardi Gras, Mamou Masked Riders," 1990s, photograph. Wikimedia Commons, 2011.

Yellin, Robert. "Dewey Balfa," photograph, 1996. In Dewey Balfa: Master of Cajun Music, Artist Spotlight by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 2016, slideshow 1, photo 2.

Owens, Maida. "Basile Mardi Gras," 1993, photograph. In Louisiana Folklife Photo Gallery. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana Folklife Program. Courtesy of Louisiana Office of Tourism.

Roe, Herb. "Courir De Mardi Gras," 2011, photograph. Wikimedia Commons.

* Audio, video, and images listed in order of slideshow sequence.