Jeff Davis, Arcadia, St. Landry and Lafayette Parish in Louisiana are located in the center of Cajun Country where the French-speaking culture and society are part of the lifestyle for those who call this area home. Lagniappe (lahn-yop) is a Cajun French word meaning "a little something extra," and this area serves up a whole lot of it! Rich with history, dating back to the 1800s, this unique portion of the state is filled with bayous, swamps, wetlands and the best eating and succulent crawfish in the United States.

Each town is special in their own way. Crowley, where life is rice and easy, is known as the "Rice Capital of America," Rayne as the "Frog Capital of the World" and Church Point as the "Buggy Capital of the World." St. Landry Parish has recently been recognized as a Certified Louisiana Retirement Community. Another interesting fact is that St. Joseph's Cemetery, situated in Rayne, is listed in "Ripley's Believe It or Not" as being the only known United States cemetery where the graves are facing north and south.

When one thinks of the state of Louisiana, the phrase "Mardi Gras" comes to mind. Mardi Gras can be traced back to 1699 in America when the explorer Iberville was traveling at the mouth of the Mississippi River on Mardi Gras day, a day that festivities were celebrated in his native country. He decided to carry on and share in the festivities.

Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday and is the final day of feasting and partying before the fasting of the Lenten season. This festivity may occur any Tuesday from February 2 thru March 9, depending on the first full moon following the Spring Equinox. The carnival season can range in days from 28 to 63. The colors purple (standing for justice), green (for faith) and gold (for power) have represented Mardi Gras since 1872 and have become a staple as artifacts and decorations.

In this area of Louisiana, the 'Courir de Mardi Gras' is a festival focused and represented in medieval history. Easter is on April 8th this year so "Fat Tuesday" will be celebrated on February 21st. One of the largest activities that is performed the week-end before "Fat Tuesday" is an event call "Run for the Chickens."

A chicken run is an old Cajun tradition practiced during Mardi Gras. A group of men on horseback travel through the community asking for donations of chickens and other ingredients for gumbo meal which will be served that evening. The men attempt to run and catch the uncooperative chicken in an unfenced field. Le Capitaine (The Captain) approaches the farm house on horseback, sounds his horn to announce his presence and asks the farmer if his group will be allowed to entertain in return for a gift of a chicken that will be added to the pot of gumbo. Singing, dancing, "faites des macaques" (making monkey shines) and total ciaos is observered by the farmer and his family. The larger the group to be fed, the more chickens to catch ... lots of exercise ... and hilarious to witness! It is a true sight to behold, all participants are dressed in the colors of Mardi Gras, gold for power, purple for justice and green for faith. The chickens run much faster then the people who are trying to catch them. It is the one time of the year when the locals make fun of the rich and famous, have a good time, eat, drink and be merry.

Crawfish is Louisiana's favorite food and is the states #1 crustacean. The ponds where the crawfish are grown is also used to grow rice. Called double cropping, the rice is planted in April, six to eight weeks later the farmer floods the area with about 18 inches of water, 50 to 75 pounds of crawfish brood stock are added to grow and reproduce. In August, the pond is drained, the crawfish burrow underground and the rice is harvested. The stalks (from the rice) remain in the water provide food which the crawfish feed on. The crawfish are harvested from November to April. The pond is then drained, rice is replanted and the process begins again in April. Generally, crawfish do not need to be restocked each year.

If the great outdoors appeals to you, why not venture into the deep dark mysterious swamplands surrounding these unique communities. Visitors can enjoy professional and insightful eco-tours by boat from Lafayette. Sit back and admire the tranquil beauty while viewing birds, alligators, huge moss-draped cypress trees and much more.

The Cajun Music Hall of Fame located in Eunice, Louisiana is sponsored by the Cajun French Mucis Association. The museum helps preserve and showcase the history of this region's unique form of music. They are open from Tuesday thru Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, admission is free, for more information visit www.cajunfrenchmusic.org.

Also located in Eunice is the Liberty Theatre of the Performing Arts where on every Saturday night the Rendez-Vous des Cajuns Radio Show takes place. The restored 1924 movie house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 6 pm is the performance time and there is an admission fee. You can reach them at 337-457-7389.

Just a few of the many restaurants to visit in Acadiana are Nick's in Eunice (www.nickson2nd.com), Fezzo's Seafood and Steakhouse and Oyster Bar in Crowley (www.fezzos.com) and Randol's Restaurant in Lafayette (www.randols.com). You can't consume any fresher seafood then what is served in this part of Louisiana, it was astonishing and I learned how to pull apart and consume my first "crawfish."

For more information about this unique and diverse area, visit the Acadia Parish Convention & Visitor Commission @ www.Acadiatourism.org. Other sites to check on are www.Jeffdavis.Org for the Jeff Davis Parish Tourist Commission, and www.Lafayette.Travel.com for the Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission.