In the United States, when one hears the word “Latin”, the first association within people’s minds is usually the Spanish language or someone of Spanish ancestry. Latin in America is seldom associated with the Romance languages of French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and other languages like Louisiana Creole which all are partially rooted in the ancient Latin tongue of Rome.
Latin is more than language of course. Roman Catholicism is one of the threads that bind the cultures of regions like Haiti, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, Italy, Brazil, and “Latin” Louisiana together. Louisiana Creoles recognize All-Saints day and Mexicans celebrate “Dia de los Muertos”[Day of the Dead,]. Even Protestant Creoles who descend from Catholic converts venerate their ancestors and decorate the graves of loved ones at Baptist Cemeteries in Southwest Louisiana-A great example of the melding of Louisiana Creole and Anglo-American culture.
Mardi Gras in Louisiana is another tradition linking our Louisiana Creole culture with celebrations like the famous Carnivals held in Brazil and through much of the Caribbean as well as in some Europe. People parade through streets, dancing, wearing masks and dress in elaborate costumes before the Catholic holiday of Lent.
Both of these cultural traditions in Louisiana is another reason why Creoles, although Americanized after over 200 years of colonization by the United States, should be studied within the context of their Latin heritage instead of from the perspective of Anglo-American historians, culinary, musical and culinary historians.