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Post by buddy on Oct 7, 2005 13:48:36 GMT -5
From what I understand the term "Creole" is supposed to designate Louisianans of mixed African, Spanish, and French ancestry. If I'm wrong please correct me. On the other hand, I believe Cajuns are mostly descended from early French settlers in the area, and also partially from other groups who were absorbed into their communities, such as Germans, Spaniards, Brits, Native Americans, and even some Africans.
Sound right to you guys? I always found Louisiana to be a very interesting state that was unique among its Southern neighbors due to the largely French culture and Catholic faith of many of its people. I've always wanted to go to New Orleans, and hopefully its people will be able to return to a normal life soon.
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Post by anodyne on Oct 7, 2005 14:47:43 GMT -5
Originally a "Creole" simply met a European living (never heard the term used by British colonists, though) in the new world. But the Arcadians and the lesser known Canary Islandrs never used the term for themselves. I suppose in Lousiana the term Creole was for urban dwellers of French or Spanish background. Of course with all the race mixing you had "creoles of color" and now that's what comes to mind when people think of creoles.
Most of those Spaniards who intermarried with cajuns by the way are Canary Islanders.
I've always wanted to spend time in New Orleans too since it's not your typical American city but I guess I'll have to wait on that.
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Matthew
Full Member
Village Idiot
Posts: 230
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Post by Matthew on Oct 7, 2005 21:54:02 GMT -5
That's what the term means today but it originally meant Spaniard living in the New World, then it meant French, or Spanish city dweller, and so on the history of the word. It comes from "criollo".
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Post by CooCooCachoo on Oct 8, 2005 23:38:38 GMT -5
It came to mean different things at different times.
Creole today refers to the bastardized French language. In the 1800's it meant a mixed race person of French/African ancestry.
Cajun today means a French-American from Louisiana. I've never heard of Cajun refering to mixed race people. ...Although Cajuns are known to be somewhat funny looking. Backwoods french-ancestral hicks who eat frogs and gators. ...It also refers to the spicy cooking done down in New Orleans, influenced by the French.
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Post by Crimson Guard on Oct 8, 2005 23:52:07 GMT -5
Mostve the French are gone,moved out years ago,they been replaced by Sicilians ...
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Post by buddy on Oct 8, 2005 23:54:08 GMT -5
It came to mean different things at different times. Creole today refers to the bastardized French language. In the 1800's it meant a mixed race person of French/African ancestry. Cajun today means a French-American from Louisiana. I've never heard of Cajun refering to mixed race people. ...Although Cajuns are known to be somewhat funny looking. Backwoods french-ancestral hicks who eat frogs and gators. ...It also refers to the spicy cooking done down in New Orleans, influenced by the French. Yeah, you're referring to the Bobby Bouchet stereotype of Cajuns LOL.
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Post by buddy on Oct 8, 2005 23:56:33 GMT -5
Mostve the French are gone,moved out years ago,they been replaced by Sicilians ... Nah the Cajuns are largely still there Crimson, but you are right about the large Sicilian community in the southern Louisiana area. Most people don't associate Sicilians with New Orleans but the earliest wave of Sicilian immigrants headed to the Big Easy. Jazz musician Louis Prima was from N'orleans ;D.
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Post by penetratorx on Oct 9, 2005 5:39:06 GMT -5
Cajuns are descendent's of early French Canadians who left Canada and settled in Louisiana after France was defeated by Great Britain and lost its territories in northern North America.
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Post by CooCooCachoo on Oct 9, 2005 11:49:08 GMT -5
Here's kind of an interesting link about the term Creole in New Orleans back around the time of slavery. ...It would appear that Creole was used as a designation to advertise prostitution with a mixed race person. www.bigeasy.com/features/storyville.html (click me) God Bless America, Land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam God bless America, My home sweet home.
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Post by buddy on Oct 10, 2005 19:50:19 GMT -5
Here's kind of an interesting link about the term Creole in New Orleans back around the time of slavery. ...It would appear that Creole was used as a designation to advertise prostitution with a mixed race person. www.bigeasy.com/features/storyville.html (click me) God Bless America, Land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam God bless America, My home sweet home. Thanks for the info. It also seems that the term "Cajun" is just a corruption of the word "Accadian" which designated where in Canada the French Canadians had emigrated from. I think I once came across an article that stated that most Louisianans have some Cajun heritage.
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Post by CooCooCachoo on Oct 11, 2005 4:21:05 GMT -5
More than a few. According to the 2000 census, French is the largest answer given for ethnic Heritage in that area of the U.S. Check out the census results map. Census Map
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Post by Crimson Guard on Oct 11, 2005 12:11:19 GMT -5
Map is bogus!
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Post by CooCooCachoo on Oct 11, 2005 18:51:31 GMT -5
Yeah. The 2000 Census is fictitious. They hired some four year old to do a color by numbers.
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Post by Anja on Oct 17, 2005 18:01:45 GMT -5
Louisiana is absolutely a crazy interesting part of the U.S. A lot of my genealogical research centers around the state, and in looking for my own ancestors I've seen how French, Native American, Croation, German, Italian, Irish, African-American, and Mulatto folks can live all together in one little town. People are quick to recognize Cajuns and Creoles, but it's often overlooked that the entire state is incredibly diverse.
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