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Contents
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Blog about Living in New Orleans
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009Check out the Toulouse Blog about life in New Orleans.
Here’s an excerpt of what he had to say approaching the Mardi Gras…
When one is called to Carnival, the first question will always be: what do I wear?
…You must simply find or make a mask, one that calls you to wear it, that dictates the costume that accompanies it, that leads you to surrender yourself to the spirit of the mask.
It need not even be a mask. My “mask” this year is a tri-corner, Asian-styled hat. I do not have the costume, but I already see the costume. When you can see the character in the object, when you can see yourself in the character, you will have found the one.
Without that mask, you can only be The Tourist. We see them at Carnival common as sparrows, and the camera is their mask. They come, take Carnival’s blurry picture and go home with fabulous hangovers… If you come do not choose to be The Tourist. Carnival is an occasion to be the spirit you know inside you. So take on your mask,… and enter through the gate The Tourists never pass, down the carriageway that opens into the courtyard at the heart of Carnival. It is filled with masks and spirits.
If reading the Toulouse blog gets you in the New Orleans mood, head on over to Home of the Groove to listen to some New Orleans music – (including some songs typically played in the Mardi Gras parade). You’ll feel like you’re in the heart of New Orleans. Bon voyage!
Mama Lisa
Burning Monsieur Carnaval for Mardi Gras in France
Monday, February 27th, 2006In France, Carnival is a big celebration held before the beginning of the Christian fasting season of Lent. French adults and kids who celebrate Carnival will dress up in costumes and have parties. And, as I discussed last week, at the end, they will burn an effigy of Monsieur Carnaval.
Monsieur Carnaval… is responsible for all the wrongdoing people do throughout the year. At Carnival time in France, Monsieur Carnaval is judged for his behavior throughout the preceding year. Usually he’s found guilty and an effigy of him is burned at the Carnival.
While Monsieur Carnaval is burning, people dance in a circle around the fire singing (in French)…
Adieu pauvre Carnaval. Tu t’en vas et moi je reste pour manger la soupe à l’ail.
Here’s an English translation…
Goodbye poor Carnaval. You are leaving, and me, I am staying to eat garlic soup.
The soup is made with garlic, a vegetable, since, once Carnival is over, it’s time for Lent. Traditionally during the fast, meat was not allowed to be eaten.
There’s a similar song in Occitan called Adiu paure Carnaval (Farewell Poor Carnival). Occitan was the language of the Troubadours. It’s still spoken in some areas of Southern France (and some regions in Spain and Italy.) As the effigy burns, Adiu paure Carnaval is sung, speaking of Monsieur Carnival leaving the singer to eat garlic and oil soup.
Here’s Adiu paure Carnaval, in Occitan, with an English translation and an mp3 recording.
Adiu paure Carnaval
(Occitan)Adiu paure, adiu paure,
adiu paure Carnaval
Tu te’n vas e ieu demòri
Adiu paure Carnaval
Tu t’en vas e ieu demòri
Per manjar la sopa a l’alh
Per manjar la sopa a l’òli
Per manjar la sopa a l’alh
Adiu paure, adiu paure,
adiu paure CarnavalLa joinessa fa la fèsta
Per saludar Carnaval
La Maria fa de còcas
Amb la farina de l’ostalLo buòu dança, l’ase canta
Lo moton ditz sa leiçon
La galina canta lo Credo
E lo cat ditz lo PaterFarewell, Poor Carnival
(English)Farewell, farewell,
Farewell, poor Carnival
You are leaving, and I am staying
Farewell, poor Carnival
You are leaving, and I am staying
To eat garlic soup
To eat oil soup
To eat garlic soup
Farewell, farewell,
Farewell, poor Carnival.The young ones are having a wild time
To greet Carnival
Mary is baking cakes
With flour from her home.The ox is dancing, the donkey’s singing
The sheep is saying its lesson
The hen is singing the Credo
And the cat is saying the Pater.Many thanks to Monique Palomares, of Mama Lisa’s World en français, for teaching me about the tradition of Monsieur Carnival and for translating and singing the song.
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World Occitan Page for more Occitan Songs.
A Mardi Gras Run Song from Mamou, Louisiana
Friday, February 24th, 2006Yesterday, I wrote about the tradition of The Mardi Gras Run in Southern Louisiana, USA. Each town has it’s own version of The Mardi Gras Song or La Chanson de Mardi Gras.
The town of Mamou, Louisiana, has a very different version of La Chanson de Mardi Gras. It’s believed to have its origins in a French song from about 400 years ago. To me, it sounds like an old French drinking song!
Here it is in French and with an English translation…
La chanson de Mardi Gras
(French)Les Mardi Gras ayoù viens-tu?
Tout à l’entour du fond du verre?On vient de l’Angleterre, O mon cher,
O mon cher,
On vient de l’Angleterre,
Tout à l’entour du fond du verre.Les Mardi Gras quoi portes-tu?
Tout à l’entour du fond du verre.On porte que las bouteille, O mon cher,
O mon cher
On porte que las bouteille,
Tout à l’entour du fond du verre.Et la bouteille est bue
Tout à l’entour du fond du verre.Il reste que la demie, O mon cher
O mon cher,
Il reste que la demie,
Tout à l’entour du fond du verreEt la demie est bue
Tout à l’entour du fond du verre.Il reste que le plein verre, O mon cher,
O mon cher,
Il reste que le plein verre
Tout à l’entour du fond du verre.Et le plein verre est bue
Tout à l’entour du fond du verre.Il reste que le demi verre, O mon cher,
O mon cher,
Il reste que le demi verre
Tout à l’entour du fond du verre.Et le demi verre est bue
Tout à l’entour du fond du verre,
Et le demi-verre est bue
Tout à l’entour du fond du verre.Il reste que la rinçure, O mon cher,
O mon cher,
Il reste que la rinçure
Tout à l’entour du fond du verre.Et la rinçure on la boit pas, O mon cher,
O mon cher,
Et la rinçure on la boit pas,
Tout à l’entour du fond du verre.Bonjour le maître et maitresse
On vous demande un peu de chose
On vous demande la fille aïnée
On va la faire faire une bonne chose
On va la faire chauffer ses pieds.The Mardi Gras Song
(English)Mardi Gras, where do you come from?
All around the bottom of the glass?We come from England, oh my dear,
Oh my dear,
We come from England,
All around the bottom of the glass!Mardi Gras, what are you bringing with you?
All around the bottom of the glass.I’m bringing a weary bottle, oh my dear,
Oh my dear
I’m only bringing a weary bottle
All around the bottom of the glass.And the bottle is drunk,
All around the bottom of the glass.Only half is left, oh my dear
Oh my dear,
Only half is left,
All around the bottom of the glass.And the half is drunk,
All around the bottom of the glass.Only the full glass is left, oh my dear,
Oh my dear,
Only the full glass is left.
All around the bottom of the glass.And the full glass is drunk,
All around the bottom of the glass.There is only half a glass, oh my dear,
Oh my dear,
There is only half a glass,
All around the bottom of the glass.And the half glass is drunk,
All around the bottom of the glass,
And the half glass is drunk,
All around the bottom of the glass.There are only the dregs, oh my dear
Oh my dear,
There are only the dregs,
All around the bottom of the glass.And the dregs, we won’t drink, oh my dear,
Oh my dear,
And the dregs, we won’t drink,
All around the bottom of the glass.Hello to the master and the mistress,
We ask you for a little something
We ask you for the oldest daughter
We’re going to make her do something nice
We’re going to make her warm up her feet*!
(*By getting her to dance!)UPDATE: John wrote to me that, “The Mardi Gras run is called the Tee Mamou/Iota Mardi Gras run” – even though the town is called Mamou. Here’s a map showing where Mamou is compared to New Orleans…
The Mardi Gras Run – Let the good times roll!
Thursday, February 23rd, 2006Mardi Gras, the American version of Carnival has been celebrated in South Louisiana, U.S.A., since around 1755. Mardi Gras literally means “Fat Tuesday” in French.
Many people are familiar with the giant Mardi Gras Parade and the other festivities in New Orleans. Much less known are the celebrations in the smaller towns which include: Le Courir de Mardi Gras or The Mardi Gras Run.
The Mardi Gras Run is traditionally done by men only, but in some places women have started their own.
During The Mardi Gras Run, everyone wears costumes and masks, except for Le Capitaine (the Captain), and his assistants. Le Capitaine wears a cowboy hat and a festive cape. All of the participants go from house to house begging for ingredients for a huge gumbo, which the whole community will eat at nighttime.
Gumbo is a traditional dish from Louisiana. It’s a thick soup, made with a variety of meats, spices, and vegetables, often including okra, which is used to thicken the soup. It’s served over rice.
Le Capitaine is in charge of the whole procession. He makes sure all the participants stay under some sort of control, as they’re likely to be drinking during The Mardi Gras Run. Le Capitiane usually rides on a horse. The participants are often on horseback too. Sometimes the procession is followed by several flatbed trucks filled with costumed women and children who watch the proceedings.
When the procession reaches a farm, le Capitaine, holding a white flag, will approach the farmer and ask if the riders can enter his property. Once given permission the men will often “beg” the farmer for a chicken. They will often chant “Ayoù la poule, ayoù la poule, ayoù la poule?” In English that’s, “Where’s the chicken? Where’s the chicken? Where’s the chicken?” If the farmer has a chicken to give, he will often throw it up in the air and the men will have to catch it. Or the farmer might give rice or some other ingredient for the gumbo. That is followed by singing and dancing. Then the procession will move on to the next house.
At the end of the Mardi Gras Run all the ingredients are given to the cooks to make a big gumbo. At night the gumbo is eaten and there’s a fais do-do, which is a big dance. Fais do-do means “go to sleep” in French. Fais do-do, in Cajun French, specifically comes from putting the children to sleep in one area at the dance, so the adults can go and party!
There are different versions of La Chanson de Mardi Gras or The Mardi Gras Song that are sung during The Mardi Gras Run. The song differs from town to town. The verse that is most common is…
La Chanson de Mardi Gras
(French)Capitaine, Capitaine, voyage ton flag.
Allons se mettre dessus le chemin.
Capitaine, Capitaine, voyage ton flag.
Allons aller chez l’autre voisin.The Mardi Gras Song
(English)Captain, Captain, wave your flag.
Let’s take to the road.
Captain, Captain, show your flag.
Let’s go to another neighbor.Below is the basic way some of the more common verses go…
In French…
Les Mardi Gras devient de tout partout.
Oui, mon cher comarade. Mais tout l’autour de moyeu.
Les Mardi Gras vient de tout partout, mais,
Tout l’autour de moyeu.Voulez vous recevoir cette bande des Mardi Gras.
Mais voulez vous recevoir cette bande des grand soulards.
Les Mardi Gras demander la rentre au maitre de la maison,
Avec toutes les politesses.English translation…
The Mardis Gras comes from everywhere.
Yes, my dear comrade, but all around the hub
The Mardis Gras comes from everywhere,
But all around the hub.Do you want to receive this band of Mardi Gras (beggers)?
But do you want to receive this band of big drunks?
The Mardi Gras asks the master of the house to enter,
With all courtesy.One expression you’ll hear at Mardi Gras is Laissez les bon temps roule!
So… Let the good times roll!
Lisa
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