Creole Is Not Cajun, & Vice Versa

The misleading combined terms "Cajun/Creole" and "Creole-Cajun" appear so often in print that some people may be surprised to learn Cajuns and Creoles are not synonymous names. Both cultures have co-existed in Louisiana for over two centuries, each with distinctive traits and special nuances that enrich and complement the other group. Although their heritages are different, Cajun and Creole people do share certain similarities of language, religion, music, and cuisine.

A major distinction between the two groups is ethnic origin. Cajun people are descendants of the Acadians (French-Canadian exiles) who emigrated to Louisiana mostly during the years 1765 to 1783. The state's first Creoles were "native-born Louisianians" whose parents came directly from France or Spain beginning in the 17th century. Colonial aristocrats used the term "Creole" to distinguish their offspring from those of lower socioeconomic status. Later, the name was extended to include American-born Africans and West Indians. Persons of mixed-race became known as "Creoles of Color" during the 19th century. Because intermarriages with other ethnic groups were rare among the Cajun inhabitants, their population remained less diverse than the Creoles.

The heritages of both cultures are essentially francophone (French-speaking) and greatly influenced by the Roman Catholic church. Historically, Creole people practiced the "true French" of their European ancestors, while the unwritten dialect of the Cajuns stemmed from their French-Canadian background. The language of Creole-French in Louisiana gradually developed into a distinctive patois sometimes called Kreyol Lwiziyen. The other common denominator among Cajuns and Creoles is their religion. The devout faith and rituals of Catholicism are strong traditions withinthe two major cultures of Louisiana.

Both Cajuns and Creoles have experienced a cultural renaissance in recent years. During the 1970's CODOFIL spearheaded ongoing educational programs for preservation of the French-Acadian heritage. In the next decade, an organization called C.R.E.O.L.E., Inc. initiated revival of ancestral pride for Louisiana-born African-Americans. This group publishes an informative magazine and has adopted the colorful flag symbolizing French, West African, Spanish, and Christian influences on Creole culture. Since 1993, an annual Creole Heritage Day has been hosted by the Cane River Community of Isle Brevelle, Louisiana, during the third weekend of January. Headquartered at Natchitoches in the northwestern part of the state, The Louisiana Creole Heritage Center is an excellent source of official information about the non-Cajun culture. In Louisiana, the Creole name has had several connotations throughout history and is now popularly associated with black ancestry and/or non-Cajun heritage. Universally, the city of New Orleans remains a cornerstone of sophisticated Creole tradition while Acadiana (the southwest Lousiana region) is gaining recognition as Cajun Country.

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