As America travels further and further into the 21st century, more of America’s historical cultural groups are losing their importance in the world. For instance, how many people in high school or in college with a historic Cajun background can speak only a couple well-known phrases such as “Laissez les bon temps roulez” (Let the good times roll) or “Comment ca va?” (How you Doing)? True Cajun culture has been rapidly dying out for several years. This demise of Cajun culture is most likely due to a dwindling number of people who can speak the Cajun-French language and an increase in those who just don’t care.
Even so, Cajun-French culture is a relatively long way from completely dying out through the efforts of organizations such as the Cajun French Music Association and the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana. CFMA’s purpose is to promote and preserve Cajun music and the Acadian heritage. CODIFIL works to develop and preserve the French language as found in Louisiana. However, the efforts CFMA and CODIFIL put forth are not fully appreciated by the upcoming generation, myself included. Thus, the task of educating and continuing this lifestyle, heritage and language remains on the shoulders of those who still care. Unfortunately, most of these people are the senior citizens who no longer have an influence over society or their children’s actions. People do not live forever. How much of our heritage will be laid in the ground, never to been seen as it was again?
Another dying quality of the Cajun culture is its festivities, such as Mardi Gras. Sure, Mardi Gras will always be greatly appreciated as a holiday demanding that people become intoxicated; however, this feature is not what Fat Tuesday was or should be centered upon. In small towns throughout central Louisiana, Mardi Gras is steeped deep in the Cajun tradition. This tradition upholds the essentials of Mardi Gras: from the chicken chases to the running of the Krewe to the final gumbo. Mardi Gras was originally celebrated as the last big community festival before the Roman Catholic liturgical season of Lent, during which one is supposed to be repenting and refraining from all temptations of life. The fact that Mardi Gras is focused only on the big party allows for forgotten relevance to tradition among younger generations.
The “form” of the Cajun tradition may still be among the youthful Cajuns ,but many have forgotten the purpose of their actions. The culture is slowly dying away, and unless organizations such as CFMA and CODIFIL act quickly people will forget why they participate in the events of a culture that has so much historical significance.
Louis L. Huckaby is a philoophy freshman from Eunice, LA.
