A Primer on Cajun History and the Story of Evangeline

Bienvenue à la Nouvelle Orléans!

As a primer for our adventure into Cajun/Creole cuisine, I wanted to give you all a tiny bit of background on the history and rich culture of the area.

As an undergrad, a large part of my studies were in the French department (I wish I could have stayed longer!), and a significant portion of that was spent studying North American francophone culture and history. Fun, huh?

I loved learning about the history of French speakers in North America, and especially those we call “Cajuns” or “Creoles.” And there’s a difference.

But for now, let’s focus on the culture, history, and enduring spirit of the Cajun people.

The Cajun Flag

“Cajun” is actually an English language interpretation of the word “Cadien,” which is short for “Acadien,” meaning someone from Acadie. Acadie (English: Acadia) was a French settlement in Canada (around New Brunswick and Quebec). The thriving French colony’s prosperity was cut short when the English arrived in the early 1700s. “The Great Expulsion” of the Acadiens by the English was nothing short of horrifying: families split apart and sent away from their home into an unsure New World.

Les Acadiens settled in what is now Louisiana, and developed their own unique culture, music (Zydeco), cuisine, and dialect (Cajun French). Click the video below to check out some toe-tappin' Zydeco music.

One of my very favorite pieces from my courses on North American francophones was the story of Evangéline, the Acadian girl who was preparing for her wedding to Gabriel when the English split the lovers apart, sending Gabriel away on a ship.

The folk story, made a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, has since become ingrained in Cajun/Acadien culture.

It’s a beautiful story; Evangéline searches her entire life for Gabriel, traveling “toute l’Amerique” (all over America) to find him. She becomes a nun who tends to the old and feeble, and as an elderly woman comes to the care of a failing old man. As he dies, she learns that she had finally found her Gabriel, who dies in her arms.

Kleenex, please.

Perhaps my very favorite rendition of the story comes from a song by French-Canadian singer Marie-Jo Thério. It gets me every time.

Are you bawling yet?

No worries; this weekend, we're making étouffée and beignets (French donuts). And in my opinion, there's nothing better than a good ol' deep fried donut to drown your sorrows.

Until then, laissez les bons temps rouler!