2003 Mardi Gras PicturesGrand Marais Mardi Gras Courir
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The capitaine or co-capitaine approaches a
homeowner on his knees and, with the utmost sincerity, described that the Mardi Gras are
in dire need of charity. He offers to have the Mardi Gras seat themselves in a circle and
sing the Grand Marais Mardi Gras Song. The homeowner may, in turn, ask to see some of the
Mardi Gras whipped. While they are in their circle, the homeowner may throw change for the
Mardi Gras to catch. Once the Mardi Gras have completed their song, the capitain and
co-capitains will select several Mardi Gras and accuse them of various infractions of the
rules like not wearing a hat. The guilty Mardi Gras must lie face down and endure a
whipping in which the lashes are laid on hard–really hard–and often in a kind of
scourging ritual lifted from the medieval era and somehow transplanted into rural
Hathaway, Louisiana. As the lashes are administered, other Mardi Gras may leap onto the
pile in an act of solidarity to try to protect their comrades. It's probably the most elaborate drama acted out by any of the courirs in Southwest Louisiana, and, even though the lashes have got to sting, all the Mardi Gras are clearly enjoying the opportunity to display their courage. Click here for more
Grand Marais photos.
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Posted 3-30-03