Mais Jamais de La Vie! Carême Traditions.

A reminder from my favorite priest, Father Jason Vidrine

Here, from the Tasse Cafe Radio Program, Lena talks about the traditions of local Catholics during Lent, or Carême: 

 

1. People fasted starting at age 21.  

2.  No meat was eaten on Wednesday or Friday.

 3. One meal of meat was allowed per day, except on Sundays. 

4. No snacks or "in-between meals" except on Sundays. 

5. During a fast, the sum of your three daily meals (breakfast, dinner and supper) should equal the amount of food eaten at one usual sized meal. 

6. People fasted and practiced abstinence.

7. Tu peux pas aller au bal during Lent, until Holy Saturday. 
(You can't go to the dance during lent until Holy Saturday.) 

8. If March 19, the Feast of Saint Joseph, falls during Lent, you can break fast that day, go to the dance, eat all you want. 

9. Nowadays you can choose your penance, except you still can't eat meat on Fridays.

10. They not strict like they used to be.

In the old old days, it was a sin to go to the dance during Lent, but Lena's aunt had slept out one night and went anyway. When she went to confession, the priest refused her absolution! To this, Jim Soileau exclaims, "Mais, jamais de la vie!"(Well I never!/Never in life!) But it was ok, because she went to another priest, who forgave her, but she sure didn't want to tell Mamere that she didn't have absolution!

Another Reminder from Father Vidrine

The Basile Mardi Gras Song

The Capitaine of the Basile Mardi Gras called in to the Tasse Cafe' radio Program, and they asked him to sing the Basile Mardi Gras Song: 

The Basile Mardi Gras song sung by Capitaine Rider, a pretty awesome name for a Capitaine. 

The Basile Mardi Gras Song

Sung by Russell Potic Rider and the Basile Mardi Gras
in the Basile Town Park Barn immediately before the start of the courir, February 16, 1999
Capitaine, capitaine, voyage ton flag et hale ton camp.
Chorus: Tout le tour autour du moyeu.
La route est grande, la nuit est longue, et les belles sont pas invitées.
C'est les Mardi Gras, ça vient une fois par an demander la charité.
Une fois par an, c’est pas trop souvent pour vous quand même.
Chorus: C’est hip, c’est hip, c’est hop, et mon cher de camarade.
C’est hip, c’est hip, c’est hop, et mon cher de camarade.
C'est les Mardi Gras ça devient de loin, ça devient de l'Angleterre.
Chorus: Tout le tour autour du moyeu.
C’est les Mardi Gras c’est tout des bons jeunes gens,
Des bons jeunes gens ça devient de bonnes familles.
Chorus: Tout le tour autour du moyeu.
C’est pas des malfecteurs. C’est juste des chamondeurs.
Chorus: C’est hip, c’est hip, c’est hop, et mon cher de camarade.
C’est hip, c’est hip, c’est hop, et mon cher de camarade.
C’est les Mardi Gras, ça demande à la maitresse,
À la maitresse pour une petite poule grasse et du riz ou de la graisse.
Chorus: Tout le tour autour du moyeu.
Pour faire leur grand gumbo ce soir à Grand Basile.
Chorus: C’est hip, c’est hip, c’est hop, et mon cher de camarade.
C’est hip, c’est hip, c’est hop, et mon cher de camarade.
Tu me promettrais ci, tu me promettrais ça, mais tu m’en donneras pas.
Chorus: Tout le tour autour du moyeu.
C’est hip, c’est hip, c’est hop, et mon cher de camarade.
C’est hip, c’est hip, c’est hop, et mon cher de camarade
Capitaine, Capitaine les sauvages ça peut plus chanter à force que leur gorge est sec.
Chorus: Tout le tour autour du moyeu.
Une bonne petite bière fraide [froide] les ferait chanter meilleur.
Chorus: C’est hip, c’est hip, c’est hop, et mon cher de camarade.
C’est hip, c’est hip, c’est hop, et mon cher de camarade

---

English Translation

Capitain, capitain, wave your flag and let’s get going.
The way is long, the night is long, and the women are not invited.

Chorus: All around the hub.
The Mardi Gras come once a year to ask for charity.
Anyhow, one time a year is not too often for you.
Chorus: It's hip, it's hip, it's hop, and my dear camarade.
It's hip, it's hip, it's hop, and my dear camarade.
The Mardi Gras come from far, they come from England.
Chorus: All around the hub.
The Mardi Gras are all good people
Good people who come from good families.
Chorus: All around the hub.
They are not wrong-doers. They are just beggars.
Chorus: It's hip, it's hip, it's hop, and my dear camarade.
It's hip, it's hip, it's hop, and my dear camarade.
The Mardi Gras ask the mistress,
The mistress for a small fat chicken, some rice, or some grease.
Chorus: All around the hub.
To make their big gumbo this evening in Big Basile.
It's hip, it's hip, it's hop, and my dear camarade.
It's hip, it's hip, it's hop, and my dear camarade.
You promise me this, you promise me that, but you don’t give me anything.
Chorus: All around the hub.
It's hip, it's hip, it's hop, and my dear camarade.
It's hip, it's hip, it's hop, and my dear camarade.
Capitain, Capitain, these wild Indians can no longer sing because their throats are dry.
A good little cold beer would make them sing better.
Chorus: It's hip, it's hip, it's hop, and my dear camarade.
It's hip, it's hip, it's hop, and my dear camarade.
Based on a French transcript by Helena Putnam supplied by the Basile Mardi Gras Association.