Creole Culture
In Louisiana, Creole is a term used to describe people of mingled Black, Spanish, French, and Indian descent. The culture began to form in the late 1700s when French settlers began to mix with African slaves in the region. These mixed-race individuals were considered free people of color and began to further. Creole background varies greatly, and for this reason Creole culture is a mixture of several otherwise independent cultures. Creole people reside mostly in Southeast Louisiana, around the city of New Orleans.
Religion
In general, religion is a set of beliefs about the origins, essence, and functions of the universe. Devotional and ritual observances are components of religion, and it also includes how humans should behave and moral codes. It is a collection of sacred things and ideas about practices, ethics, and world views. Religion is passed on from believers to their children and others around them. Most Creoles in Louisiana are Roman Catholic. Louisiana’s relationship with Catholicism is a long standing, deep relationship. Before becoming a part of the U.S., it was owned by the French and the Spanish who were are two Catholic entities. New Orleans, the Creole capital, is home to the Saint Louis Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in North America. Louisiana remains today the only state that is divided into “Parishes”, a religious term for a church community, rather than “Counties” like other states. Catholicism is by far the most practiced religion, but there’s a small percentage of Creole people that still practice Voodoo, the religion of their ancestors. Voodoo was brought to French Louisiana during the colonial period by enslaved Africans from West Africa. From 1719 to 1731, the majority of African captives brought to, and enslaved in, Louisiana were Fon people from what is now Benin. The religion has a lot in common with Catholicism so many people in Louisiana would confess both faiths. Catholics and those who practiced Voodoo got along harmoniously. However due to media portrayals of the ancient religion, popular misconceptions developed around the principal elements of Voodoo. The false idea that hexing and sticking pins into dolls were Voodoo’s purposes started in the 1930's which forced Voodoo to move underground.
Because of misconceptions about Voodoo, an entire way of life was affected. Voodoo priests and priestesses were forced into the darkness, furthering the decline of this rich religion. Because of the judgements of people who were misinformed, Voodoo may one day soon be erased from the Louisiana lifestyle.
Arts
Creole Literature/ Oral stories
Literature is an important aspect of any culture. Literature simply means writing Storytelling is a way to pass on cultural ideas to descendants. It is used as an education tool to guide future generations in the way of their ancestors. This is no different in the Creole community. The first authentic Creole writings in Louisiana were produced by the generation born between 1800 and 1820. Nineteenth-century Afro-Creole literature focused not only on political and racial issues, but also included, among other things, love poems, prayers, and echoes of French romanticism.
Zydeco Music
Here in the United States, music is a part of our everyday lives. This is no different in Louisiana. Although there are many prominent jazz, rap, and blues musicians that call Louisiana home, there is one special type of music that you can rarely find anywhere else.
Literature and songwriting are both outlets for storytelling. By listening to these voices of the past we can learn things. They let us hear the voice of the Creoles, a voice that has not had much a platform in history.
Values
Creoles take pride in remaining separate from the larger groups of society. For this reason, they often live together in their own neighborhoods, hidden from the bigger cities. When a culture lives off on it’s own, Â mostly untouched by outside people, it begins to create it’s own values and lifestyle. There are a few values that are necessary to the Creole life.
It is a Creole duty to take widowed cousins and orphaned children and kin into their families.
Creole men must assert their reputation as sportsmen, cooks, dancers, talkers, and workers, yet still gentle enough to eventually settle into a respectable home life. Work is the most important aspect of life, especially physically demanding jobs. Creole men and women are expected to be hard workers and willing to get their hands dirty. Typical Creole jobs include fishermen, oystermen, alligator hunters, and working offshore on oil rigs. None of these jobs require much education but they do require intelligence and a real knowledge of their surrounding areas. Doing these jobs well is a true sign of success.
Although Creoles are a sub-set of a greater United States culture, their values can differ a bit. Around the United States we see people who value money and education above all else. This is not necessarily a good or bad thing, but Creoles just don’t think the same way. They work to make enough money to survive. Secondary education is of little importance, because Creoles prefer to work the land or water for their living. As long as they have family, that is enough.
Language
Language is an important factor. It runs every encounter and aspect of our lives. It helps us to inform and understand.
The desire to communicate and orally express ourselves is as old as time.
The Creole Language , better known as French Creole, is a distant variant of the French language. Someone who spoke French probably wouldn’t understand it because it has African and Native words mixed in with it. Creole speakers make up 4% of Louisiana and there are less than 10,000 French Creole speakers in the United States.
For Creole people language is a link to the past. It reminds them of their identity and multi-cultural background. Although the language itself is a fundamental characteristic of humanity, the creoles of Louisiana no doubt have a special one.
Food
Louisiana Creole is a style of food originating in the bayous of Creole settlements. The cuisine includes French, Spanish, African, Native American, and Caribbean influences, making for a uniquely delicious culinary experience. There are some foods that are considered typically Creole, but it is important to note that many of them have different varieties and ways of preparation, depending on the area’s traditions and preferences and how the recipes have evolved since colonial times.
Many of the dishes eaten are features of African-influenced Louisiana, that is, Creoles of color and black Creoles. Jambalaya has Spanish roots and is connected to the traditional Spanish rice dish paella. American Indians introduced file (the ground powder of the sassafras leaf), which is used as a seasoning.
Traditionally, slaves in the kitchens of well-to-do members of society prepared the food. Due to the abundance of time and resources, the dishes consisted of an array of spices from various regions and creamy soups and sauces. A remoulade sauce, for example, consists of nearly a dozen ingredients. Creole cuisine has large variety of ingredients, because of the easy access Creoles had to exotic ingredients and the wide mix of cultures that contributed to the cuisine. This allowed them to test out recipes and cooking styles until they got it right.
Food is an important part of cultures all around the word. Meals are used to connect people and as a way of sharing. Creoles believe strongly in family values and food is a way that they show this. From large cookouts and crawfish boils, if there is a group of Creoles, there is bound to be food.
