Comments on: “Cajun” vs. Louisiana (vs. New Orleans)

By: Michael Hebert

Michael Hebert — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 20:38:23 +0000

Bonjour! Comment ca va?
I was browsing the net and saw your post. I find it very interesting parce que most of us in Evangeline Parish are Cajuns yet we all have more French Creole ancestry than Acadian. Evangeline is in the heartland of Acadiana. Avoyelles Parish too is considered Cajun yet that parish has even fewer Acadian desecendants than Evangeline. Go figure. Is “country Creole” a possible word? Anyway, I wanted to share that with you. If interested see these sites for more info on the situation in Cajun country:
http://www.geocities.com/old_time_time/many.htm
http://www.geocities.com/bourbonstreet/1781/
Je te souhaite une bonne journee!
(I wish you a good day)

By: John Masters

John Masters — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 02:30:45 +0000

I wish I had a dollar for every time I had to explain all the differences of cultures in Louisiana. I’ve shortened the whole thing to: Louisiana is like two states, north is like Arkansas or Mississippi, south has the cajun culture with Catholocism and cajun food thrown in, and New Orleans is a world unto itself.

If they want more detail, I’ll fill in the blanks.

I haven’t had a Natchitoches meat pie in over ten years. Wish I had thought of it when we came to Monroe just after Christmas. I ate too much as is was, so just as well I guess.

Great post.

By: Brien

Brien — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 03:45:19 +0000

You know, despite living in Natchitoches for two years and then visiting often, I’ve never had a Natchitoches Meat Pie. I’m a bad giftie. And it’s very true that just because you are from South Louisiana or even have a French-sounding name, that doesn’t make you a Cajun. Heck, the ancestor responsible for all Louques was from Venice, not even France. Of course, I can claim some Cajun heritage from the Lambert side of the family, but still (my other grand parents’ families came from Germany and Sicily). And much like North Louisiana is not like South Louisiana, South Louisiana is not like New Orleans. They are all distincitve regions with their own distinctive cultures. Sorry, I’m a little drunk after realizing that I had nothing to drink except some butterscotch liquor and some Irish cream, thus being forced to drink a very large glass of buttery nipples. Ummmmmmmmmmm.

P.S. – I have a huge Acadian flag in my office. People think I’m from a foreign country.

P.P.S. – One time when I was short, I went with my family to D.C. My dad approached a police officer to ask where something was, and the officer asked if we were from Louisiana. When we said we were, he asked us if we drank Community Coffee. How racists (ethicist?) of him – even if we do. Damnett!

By: Alan

Alan — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:26:31 +0000

I love an informative rant as much as the next person. Especially those about Cajun, Creole, and other Louisiana things. I remember in the early days of the internet back when all was wild and text based and I’d meet people on IRC who upon finding out I was from Louisiana would always ask “Are you from New Orleans?” It was like some people didn’t realize there were other places in the state besides New Orleans.