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This article is about an ethnic culture. For other uses of the term "Cajun", see Cajun (disambiguation) . The Cajuns are an Ethnic Group consisting of the descendants of Acadian s who were expelled from the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick , Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in 1755 as a result of their refusal to swear allegiance to the British Crown . As many of them resettled in Louisiana , English-speaking colonists referred to them as "Cajun". The term "Cajun" originated from a corruption of the French word ''Acadien'', a reference to the their ancestral Acadia region. ANCESTRY Cajuns are descendants of Acadian refugees (s.v., / Métis ancestry, especially Abenaki and Mi'kmaq . In their two centuries in Louisiana, Acadians intermarried with other groups and so they are today a more mixed population. The word "Cajun" is the anglicised pronunciation of ''Acadien'' (Acadian in French). There is some dispute over the origin of the term Acadia for their homeland; some suggest that it came from Arcadia; others suggest that it is a derivation of the Mikmaq word ''cadique'' meaning "a good place to set up camp". Non-Acadian French Creole s in rural areas were absorbed into Cajun communities. Many Cajuns also have ancestors who were not French. German colonists began to settle in Louisiana before the Louisiana Purchase , particularly on the "German Coast" along the Mississippi River north of New Orleans . People of Spanish origin, including many Canary Islanders have settled along the Gulf Coast , and in some cases intermarried into Cajun families. Anglo-American settlers in the region often were assimilated into Cajun communities, especially those who arrived before the English language became predominant in southern Louisiana. One obvious result of this cultural mixture is the variety of surnames that are common among the Cajun population. Surnames of the original Acadian settlers (which are documented) have been augmented by French and even non-French family names that have merged into Cajun populations. The spelling of many family names was changed for a variety of reasons. Ethnic group of national origin Cajuns are a distinct ethnic group. Descended from displaced Acadians, their retention in significant measure of a unique form of the French language and numerous distinct cultural customs distinguish them as an ethnic group tied to a national origin. A federal district court ruling in 1980 (Roach v. Dresser Indus. Valve and Instrument Division 494 F.Supp. 215, D.C.La., 1980), decided by Judge Edwin Hunter, includes a discussion of the history of the Cajuns. The ruling held as follows in an employment discrimintation case: :"We conclude that plaintiff is protected by Title VII 's ban on national origin discrimination. The Louisiana Acadian is alive and well. He is “up front” and “main stream.” He is not asking for any special treatment. By affording coverage under the “national origin” clause of Title VII he is afforded no special privilege. He is given only the same protection as those with English, Spanish, French, Iranian, Czechoslavakian, Portuguese, Polish, Mexican, Italian, Irish, et al., ancestors" Since the mid-1950s, relations between the Cajuns of the U.S. Gulf Coast and Acadians in the Maritimes and New England have been renewed, forming an Acadian identity common to Louisiana, New England, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. The Congres Mondial Acadien (New Brunswick 1994, Louisiana 1999, Nova Scotia 2004), a large gathering held every five years, is an example of this new unity. As with most contemporary Americans of various heritages, Cajuns are assimilated into the wider society. They exist more integrated in mainstream American culture than isolated in a distinctly Cajun culture. Some Cajuns live in communities outside of Louisiana. Also, some people identify themselves as ''Cajun'' culturally despite lacking Acadian ancestry. HISTORY The people who were to become the Cajuns were evicted from Nova Scotia in the period 1755 - 1763 ; this has become known as the Great Upheaval or ''Le Grand Dérangement''. At the time there was a war going on in what is now Canada between France and Great Britain over the colony of New France . This war is known in the United States as the French And Indian War , though it is generally considered only one theater of the Seven Years' War . The British Crown apologized for the illegal expulsion centuries later in December 2003. This would close one of the longest open court issues in the history of the British courts. Acadian representatives first brought their grievances of forced disposession of land, property and livestock before the British courts in 1760. The Acadians were scattered throughout the eastern seaboard (where some became slaves in British colonies), the Caribbean , and Europe . Families were split and put on different ships with different destinations. Many ended up in French-colonized Louisiana, mainly in the American South. France ceded the colony to Spain In 1762 just before Acadians began settling in Louisiana. The interim French officials provided land and supplies. The Spanish governor, Galvez, later proved to be hospitable, permitting the Acadians to continue to speak their language, practice Roman Catholicism —which was also the official religion of Spain—and otherwise pursue their livelihoods with minimal interference. Some families and individuals did travel north through the Louisiana territory to set up homes as far north as Wisconsin . The Cajuns who settled in southern Louisiana originally did so in the area just west of what is now New Orleans, mainly along the Mississippi River. Later, they were moved by the Spanish colonial government to areas west and southwest of New Orleans where they shared the swamps and prairies with the Attakapa and Chitimacha Native American tribes. There they remained somewhat secluded until the early 1900s . During the early part of the 20th Century , attempts were made to suppress Cajun culture by measures such as forbidding the use of French in schools. Attitudes changed after World War II , during which Cajuns often served as French interpreters for American forces in France. These experiences have helped change attitudes as the century progressed. Over the years, many Cajuns have come to live in other parts of Louisiana, and in the "Golden Triangle" area of Texas , where they followed oil field jobs in the 1970s and 1980s when the demand for petroleum related jobs in Louisiana declined as major oil companies moved their businesses to Texas. The eastern and western Cajun regions were among the hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina on August 29 , 2005 and Hurricane Rita on September 26 , 2005 . GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION See Also: Acadiana Most Cajuns originated in Acadiana , where their descendants are still predominant. Cajun populations today are found also in the area south of New Orleans and scattered in areas adjacent to the French Louisiana region, such as to the north in Alexandria, Louisiana and in Southeastern Texas . Cities like Orange , Beaumont , and Port Arthur are home to Cajuns whose parents and grandparents were French speakers with the same cultural traditions found in southwestern Louisiana. CULTURE Language See Also: Cajun French It is usually presumed that Cajun French is solely derived from Acadian French as it was spoken in the French colony of Acadia (now located in the Maritime Provinces of Canada ), though the dialect also had influences from Quebec French , Haitian French and Haitian Creole , as well as European French. Cajun is a dialect of French , but differs from Parisian or Metropolitan French in some areas of pronunciation and vocabulary. Religious and folk beliefs Cajuns are predominantly Roman Catholic . However, Protestant and Evangelical Christian denominations have made inroads among Cajuns. Religious observances such as Shrove Tuesday ( Mardi Gras ), Lent , and Holy Week are integral to many Cajun communities. One folk custom is belief in a or a French Werewolf , that will hunt down and kill Catholics that do not follow the rules of Lent . Cajun music See Also: Cajun music Cajun music is rooted in the music of the French-speaking Catholics of Canada and transformed to a unique sound of the Cajun culture. In earlier years the Fiddle was the predominant instrument, but gradually the Accordion has come to share the limelight. Visual Arts A few local artists have gained international recognition for their unique visions.
Literature Though many stories were passed down from generation to generation verbally, some were written down for posterity. Some were written down by non-Cajuns. Some are simply made up children's stories to reconnect the newest generations with their culture and past. The Henry Wadsworth Longfellow version of the Acadian Upheaval, " Evangeline " is probably the best known telling of the story. Historians will argue about Longfellow's accuracy, but it is the most visible and best known account of the time available. The fictionalized heroine of the poem is honored with a statue and historical recreation near St. Martinville, Louisiana . Mary Alice Fontenot wrote children's stories featuring characters that Cajun children could find in their back yard. "Clovis the Crawfish" (her most enduring character), went on adventures with his friends "Paillasse Poule D'Eau", "Christophe Cricket", and "Petit Papillon", among others. She also wrote numerous newspaper articles, historical pieces, and other books for adults as well as children. Jude Roy writes short stories about Cajun life, past and present. Roy's stories have been published in The Southern Review and other compilations, and have been read on National Public Radio . Nola Mae Ross writes stories and books primarily about the southwestern Louisiana parishes of Calcasieu and Cameron. These include historical accounts of Hurricane Audrey and the infamous Jean Lafitte . Kate Chopin wrote about the Creoles and Cajuns (Acadiens). Her most well-known novel is probably "The Awakening" (1899). There is also a fine book of short stories called "Bayou Folk" (1894). Apparently, the work of Ms. Chopin was rediscovered in the 1970s. "The Awakening" is now considered a fine piece of feminist literature. Food See Also: Cajun cuisine , an ingredient emblematic of Cajun cuisine.]] To paraphrase an old saying, Cajuns live to eat. Outside Louisiana the distinctions between Cajun and Louisiana Creole Cuisine have been blurred. However, Creole dishes tend to be more continental, although using local produce. Cajun Victuals are more spicy and tend to be more hearty. Many well knonwn Cajun dishes were originally centered on wild game. Outside Louisiana the distinctions are academic. The , Celery , and Bell Pepper , finely diced. This is similar to the use of the '' Mire Poix '' in traditional French cooking, which is finely diced onion, celery, and Carrot . With this base, flavors are layered and concentrated. Inexpensive and readily available ingredients, seasoned and served over rice, provided the basis for the cuisine of the Cajuns. High on the list of favorites of Cajun cooking are the soups called Gumbo s. The word originally meant '' Okra '', which is one of the principal ingredients of a gumbo, used as a thickening agent. A filé gumbo is thickened with Sassafras leaves, a practice borrowed from the Choctaw Indians. The backbone of a gumbo is the Roux , which is made of flour, toasted until well toasted, and Fat or Oil , not Butter as with the French. The classic gumbo is made with Chicken and the Cajun sausage called Andouille , but the ingredients all depend on what is available at the moment. Another Cajun classic is the variety of Jambalaya s that is available at any time. The only certain thing that can be said about them is that they contain Rice and almost anything else. Usually, however, you'll find green Pepper s, Onion s, Celery and hot Chile Pepper s. Anything else is optional. Boudin is a type of spicy Sausage made from a pork, pork liver, rice, garlic and green onion along with other spices. It is widely available by the link or pound, from butcher shops. Boudin is usually made daily as it does not keep well for very long, even frozen. Boudin is typically stuffed in a natural casing and has a softer consistency than other more well sausage varieties. It is usually served in conjuction with other side dishes such as rice dressing, maque choux, or bread. Rice proved to be a valuable commodity in early Acadiana. With an abundance of water, rice could be grown practically anywhere in the region, and grew wild in some areas. Rice became the predominant starch in the diet, easy to grow, store and prepare. Rice helped the Acadians thrive in south Louisiana. The oldest rice mill in operation in the United States, the Conrad Rice Mill, is located New Iberia. The food of the Cajuns had to meet certain requirements. Many households consisted of 8-12 people, so farming was a requirement, regardless of the head of household's other vocations. Whoever did the cooking had to prepare food for a lot of hard working people everyday. Rice became the easiest, cheapest, and tastiest way to do that. Cajun cuisine grew up around the ability to stretch what little meat, game, or other protein they had. In most cases, whatever is found on a Cajun table is what a Cajun found in the field or water a short time before and a short distance away, like Crawfish or Gator or Rabbit or Chicken or waterfowl. The cuisine is simple, lively, hearty and plentiful. The Crawfish boil is a celebratory event where Cajuns boil crawfish, potatoes, onions and corn over large propane cookers. Oranges, lemons, and small muslin bag containing a mixture of bay leaves, mustard seeds, cayenne pepper and other spices, commonly known as "crab boil" or "crawfish boil" are added to the water for seasoning. The results are then dumped onto large, newspaper-draped tables and then covered in spice blends, Zatarain's, Louisiana Fish Fry and Tex Joy are popular commercial blends. Cocktail sauce, mayonnaise and Tabasco are common condiments. The seafood is scooped onto large trays or plates and eaten by hand. Attendees are encouraged to "suck the head" of a crawfish by separating the abdomen of the crustacean and sucking out the abdominal fat/juices. Some traditions urge particpants to kiss the tail section of the crawfish before eating it. This has lead to a rather vulgar T-shirt that features a picture of a crawfish with the slogan, "Kiss My Ass, Suck My Head, Eat Me." The more common phrase is "Pinch my tail, suck my head." Spiciness plays a major role in modern Cajun/Creole cuisine. Despite the distinction, residents of the Cajun/Creole region value Tabasco or the slightly different "Louisiana Hot Sauce" and their contributions to the meal. Small, pickeled, hot, green peppers in vinegar with a shaker-top are also a staple of Cajun/Creole meals. Tradtionally cajun cuisine is well seasoned, but not as hot as it is widely reputed to be. Celebrations Many people in Festival in Gueydan, The Rice Festival in Crowley, the Sugarcane festival in New Iberia, the Zydeco Festival in Opelousas, the Andouille festival in La Place and the Cracklin Festival in Port Barre. The Crawfish Festival in Breaux Bridge and Festival International in Lafayette are two of the most popular festivals, and attract visitors from around the world. Smaller local festivals are very popular, and are produced with great fanfare. The majority of festivals include a ''fais-do-do'' or street dance, usually to a live local band. Crowds at these festivals can range from a few hundred to over 100,000. In Texas, the Winnie Rice Festival and other celebrations often highlight the Cajun influlence in Southeast Texas . As opposed to the more Western view of Texas , Southeast Texas has a very Cajun flavor, with many residents sporting French-derived names and anscestories. Outside Louisiana, a major Cajun/Zydeco festival was held annually in Rhode Island, which does not have a sizable Cajun population but is home to many Franco-Americans of Québecois and Acadian descent. It featured Cajun culture and food, as well as authentic Louisiana musical acts both famous and unknown, drawing attendance not only from the strong Cajun/Zydeco music scene in Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York City , but from all over the world. In recent years the festival became so popular that there are now several such large summer festivals near the Connecticut-Rhode Island border: The Great Connecticut Cajun and Zydeco Music & Arts Festival, The Blast From The Bayou Cajun and Zydeco Festival, and the Rhythm & Roots Festival . Mardi Gras underscores the Cajun belief system. The Catholic church figures heavily in planning almost everything and many of the traditions of Acadiana are based on the church calendar. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent in the Catholic church, a 40 day period of fasting and reflection which ends Easter Sunday . So Mardi Gras is the last chance to have a huge party. The traditional "Fat Tuesday" celebration in the rural areas of Acadiana is nothing like the debauchery and craziness that typifies , if they can catch it. The group then puts on a show, comically attempting to catch the chicken set out in a large open area. Songs are sung, jokes are told, and little skits are acted out. When and if the chicken is caught, it is duly added to the pot at the end of the day. The "Courir de Mardi Gras" held in the small town of Mamou has become well known. SEE ALSO SOURCES
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