Lundi Gras is a relatively new tradition in the celebration-soaked New Orleans. The term was coined some time in the 70's or 80's, referring to specific riverside festivities that occurred the day before Mardi Gras in the Big Easy.
In Cajun country, the southern central part of the state surrounding places like Eunice, Mamou, and Ville Platte, traditional Mardi Gras is still observed with couriers riding the countryside, begging foodstuffs from the locals so that a community gumbo can be made at the end of their ride.
Lundi Gras is a day that the couriers drink, enjoy each other's company, eat heartily, and try to form a loose plan of the routes that various groups will use, so as not to ask the same farmers 8 times for chickens. In a way, Lundi Gras is the courier's celebration. Make no mistake, while Mardi Gras is fun for the couriers, 15 hours on horseback can be grueling. On Mardi gras, the couriers work.
In honor of the upcoming Louisiana state holiday, today, on Lundi Gras, I made a gumbo, and bought a King Cake from the store. We dined on the finest of Louisiana delicacies, and listened to Cajun music.
By the way, if you've never heard Dewey Balfa play fiddlesticks, you have NO IDEA what Cajun music is all about.
Enjoy your Mardi Gras, however you choose to spend it.
1 comment:
That looks like a proper Gumbo. I fixed leftover pork loin in gravy, with rice. It did not suck.
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