Cajun and Creole music, food, and language share a great deal, particularly through their shared French

origins, but they do have their distinctive properties, helping to give New Orleans its rich and varied culture. Origins The word "Cajun" is derived from " cadia," a French colony founded in the !"#$s around what today we call the Canadian %aritime &rovinces. 'y !()), the area was under control of the 'ritish, who ousted the cadians in Le Grand Derangement *the +reat ,isturbance-. The cadians went all over, and a large portion went to the then.French territories of /ouisiana. These people became Cajuns. The word "Creole" comes from the 0panish criollo, which mean "a child born in the colony." The term was applied to descendants of early French and 0panish settlers all over the "New 1orld," but eventually narrowed to indicate native.born /ouisianans of French and2or 0panish descent. Food The Cajuns brought their recipes not just from France, but also from about !)$ years of living in Nova 0cotia and New 'runswic3. Cajun cuisine is heavy on hearty seafood dishes, often made in one big pot and served over rice. 0tandard fare includes4 Jambalaya Crawfish touffe Creole recipes were developed in New Orleans and are usually more urbane and cross. cultural, including the cuisine traditions not just of the French and 0panish, but also of other 5uropean and frican countries. Creole dishes are all about the rich sauces. 0tandard fare includes4 Shrimp Creole Grillades and Grits Language The Cajun language is primarily derived from French, with a blend of 6ndian, 5nglish thrown in, particularly with terminology originating after the !"#$s. frican, and

The Creole language *of /ouisiana- is again a blend, but does not feature French so prominently among the many languages of its origins, including 0panish, &ortuguese, 5nglish, and many frican dialects. Music Cajun music is rooted in French fol3 songs and heavily influenced by frican rhythms. 6t tends to be upbeat to the point of athletic, often with a wild accordion lead. 7ydeco dancer once as3ed if me if 6 were "tired of them Cajun aerobics" while he led me more sedately around the dance floor. Creole and 7ydeco music tends to focus on the melody and often tell stories, many times of life as a slave or heavy laborer. That said, Cajun and Creole music and culture have tended to blend in recent times, which only ma3es sense, considering that they were themselves born of cultural fusions.