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Cajun Culture
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Long ago, in a land far away, a group of primarily French settlers were stripped of their land and exiled. These people were called the Acadians. The Acadian people fled from Nova Scotia and other provinces of Canada with little more than a wish and a prayer. Louisiana turned out to be the answer to that prayer for a group of them. Against terrible odds these amazing individuals found a new land and prospered.
Settlers of German descent had already found their way to this new land in the 1720’s. So our heroes and heroines were not the first ones here, but along with the variety of Native American tribes and communities of Creoles, they lived and worked side by side with their new neighbors. This blending of cultures and societies has given birth to the rich heritage that is still evident in the lives of their descendants, the Cajun people and their new home, Acadiana.
Acadiana, according to the Louisiana legislature, is a triangular area that stretches from just west, but not including, New Orleans to the Texas border along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and up about 100 miles inland to Marksville. Twenty-two parishes are included in this area. They are Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Calcasieu, Cameron, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jeff Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Point Coupee, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion and West Baton Rouge. Eight parishes of the twenty-two make up what is called the Cajun Heartland, which is the central area initially settled by the majority of relocated Acadians. These parishes are Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion.
Lafayette is the considered the capital of Acadiana. It was originally named Vermilionville, after the Vermilion Bayou that runs nearby. Lafayette acts as the hub of all that is Cajun because of its central location. Renamed when the railroad came to town in the 1880’s, Lafayette boasts the largest metropolitan area in Acadiana followed by Houma-Thibodeaux and Lake Charles. While the area continues to grow and evolve its’ Cajun roots run deep.
There is much to see and experience of Cajun life scattered throughout the parishes that make up what is aptly called Cajun Country. The legacy of Acadiana is alive and well in the beautiful country, excellent food, amazing music and especially in its’ warm vibrant people.
You can’t beat that for happy endings...
Comment
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Comment by merry hancock on April 6, 2011 at 8:51am -
so interesting to read these great articles. Famalies beginnings are so important to know and pass on.Me.I am froma and live in the Pacific Northwest.I live inland now but was born and raised on the coast in a logging town. I enjoy people and writing snail mail and email so if any one is interested let me know. I also like to trade flower seeds of what is common in your area and mine.
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Comment by Lee Benoit on January 9, 2011 at 6:32am -
I am a Cajun musician from Louisiana. I was raised in Crowley by my grandmother and now live in Rayne. I love my cultue and music and speak Cajun French thanks to my grandma who I called mom. I get to play Cajun music five nights a week with my wife Valerie on bass and daughter Maegen on drums and our good friend Mark Hebert from Gueydan on fiddle. I am on accordion and vocals. We currently have 4 CD's released. There is nothing that I would rather be doing. We are truly blessed to be able to live this Cajun life. Thank you God.
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Comment by kyle evan kelley on January 30, 2010 at 3:37pm
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Her Family been In Louisiana,Since Her Family Came Down From Nova Scotia Canada, As poineers
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Comment by kyle evan kelley on January 30, 2010 at 3:31pm
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I Love cajun Music and culture , My Grandma Roubioux, Started
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Comment by Linton Arceneaux on December 6, 2009 at 5:38am
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I've lived in Houston, Tx. since 1970. I grew up in the Church Point - Cankton area. I attended Bristol Elem. where I began the process of learning English and becoming "Americanized" - becoming indoctrinated to being ashamed of my Cajun heritage. Yes, Louisiana has changed over the years, but there is still some areas that has managed to maintain the "Cajun values and lifestyle", and, if nothing else, it is good to be able to, every once in a while, go back to where you came from and think of the "good old days". Until recently, there was a radio station that played Cajun music-oldies-mixed in with swamp pop and some oldie country- KROF The Gator in Abbeville . . . 24/7 . . . .but they changed their format to 60's and 70's rock and disco because they couldn't get any merchants to buy advertising with the Cajun format. Being a salesman, I'd prefer to think that instead of going out and knocking on doors, they sat on their butts and waited for the phone to ring . . . I may be wrong. Cajun music in Houston area . . . PeTee has a Cajun program early Sat. mornings on KPFT and Te Bruce has Cajun music early Sunday out of the Golden Triangle area . . . I believe on 960 am. Other than that , I looking for something to replace the 24/7 KROF. Bonne chance a toute les Cajain don le monde et lache jamais la patate. Dieu vous benie.
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Comment by Marilyn Mercier on October 23, 2009 at 10:09am
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i love cajun music. i live in new hampshire s we have to look for this music and i was so happy so when i found this station. .my husbands family is one of the french canadian famillie s who came to this country. some years ago there was a mercier reunion in quebec and there were many merciers from louisiana there where hundreds at this gathering and we all enjoyed meeting as many relatives as possible. so im enjoying this music even more as some may be relatives playing it. again thanks for this station i do appreciate it
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Comment by dan jarrell on October 12, 2009 at 11:50am
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hi all after working in the central texas area for 3 years my wife and i bought a place here. i was raised in the new iberia area and my wife was raised in pierre part. we have 10 1/2 acres, 1/2 acre pond, and about 3 acres of woods at back of property. country living is what its all about. no matter where a coonass goes we are coonass tru and tru
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Comment by CHARLESTON on September 30, 2009 at 3:38pm -
hello everybody, it´s nice to hear you saying nice and bad things about the cajun land....
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Comment by kenneth on August 2, 2009 at 7:25pm
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my dad is from crowly and i remember when i was a kid going to visit relatives there. they old bread store is still there but everything else has changed don the only station i know of is KBON in ville platte but it also is mixed music. i miss the old cajun music as well but can someone tell me where i might find this music near houston area
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Comment by Mark Cox on July 30, 2009 at 10:23am
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Hi all my name is Mark I live in atlanta the old ways are gone here to I would love to live around lake charles area back in the woods where its not so populated I love the old ways living off the land.
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Comment by Stacy Wingate on July 30, 2009 at 9:01am -
Louie is changing and I don't like the new ways either......let's take it back to the old!
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Comment by Aleece Trahan on June 29, 2009 at 1:21pm -
I know what you mean Don, I miss it, Im from Gueydan, as is my family going wayyy back. Everyting seems to have changed even from when i was little (and im not that old). I feel displaced, granted i moved to NC(im the wierdo dancing in restaurants here), but even when i go home it just doesnt seem as right, maybe its just nastalgia from my childhood, Im not sure.
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Comment by Don Guidry on June 13, 2009 at 11:45am
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Im sorry, But I hope you are right about our culture, but every time I go back home to see family it seems like it is slowly going away. I can't even find a radio station that plays JUST cajun music like before. I call home Midland / Esterwood area on old hwy 90. There is alot more I see going down the drain. The ONLY reason I am down here is for a job, But I am still a coonass till the day I die.
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