ambience Cajun Mardi Gras crowd, accordion music, song
Coming around the bend are a couple of pickup trucks hauling flatbed trailers. And in those trailers are dozens of people dressed in brightly colored fringed costumes, wearing screen masks and pointy hats, and whooping up a storm. We’re in Basile, Louisiana, for their annual celebration of Mardi Gras. I’m Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.
“I love Christmas, I love Easter, I love all the other holidays but when Mardi Gras comes around when I know it’s time, the hair raises up on the back of my neck and you just get that feeling, you know, and you just can’t wait for it. And when it gets here, oh, it’s a wonderful feeling to do it.”
Potic Rider has been involved with Mardi Gras in Basile all his life.
“It’s my heritage, it’s my tradition, and running Mardi Gras is part of our religion. Our old parents, they believe very, very seriously in fasting for Lent. And I run to keep this alive. It’s part of me. For us running Mardi Gras is like letting the air out of a balloon. We wait for this for a year, and it builds up in you – and it builds up in you and when it’s finally over, believe me it’s a relief because you’re really wore off. when you’re part of this Mardi Gras stuff you’re forgetting about your job, your worries, your bills, you’re just having one good time with all of your friends there. And everybody’s doing this together.”
Please visit our web site at pulseplanet.com. Pulse of the Planet is presented by the National Science Foundation. I’m Jim Metzner.
ambience: “Everybody listen up!”