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Raccoons, Bayous and Bar House Stools, I (Taken From Chapter 5) Cajun Spirituality must have evolved primarily in nature. As I see it the primary spiritual concern of any Cajun is to put food on the table and to have a good time in life.... more

Raccoons, Bayous and Bar House Stools, I
(Taken From Chapter 5)

Cajun Spirituality must have evolved primarily in nature. As I see it the primary spiritual concern of any Cajun is to put food on the table and to have a good time in life. Of course in the mind of the Cajun people, there is no better place to have fun than outside. Outside could be in the woods, the swamp, the Gulf of Mexico or the Mermentau River. Usually, the Cajun has his dog with him in the case he runs into a wild Raccoon which he needs to run up a tree or across the Pine forest floor. No real Cajun will leave his home without his dog. Even when he goes to the bar, he makes sure his Coon Dog, or Retriever is near him. If he can't bring him into the establishment he will leave him in his truck and sure to bring him a fresh brew every once in a while depending upon how long the Cajun will sit in the establishment he visits. One thing I've noticed over the years is the close emotional ties a Cajun has with his dog. Cajun Spirituality is about the Cajun and his Dog.

I've never seen a Cajun bring his dog INTO the Church, but that doesn't mean that he bring him TO the Church. When a Cajun is praying, he always knows he should also be praying for his best friends too, and that means his Dog. A Cajun believes God loves all creatures and besides his Cows, Turkeys, Pigs, Sheep and Chickens, his Dog is his best friend. To a Cajun, the Church is a sacred place, but he doesn't see it just for humans. The sign outside of the Church, which he understands as "House of God," he interprets as "all God's creatures." He takes that seriously because any Cajun without as many creatures around him as possible is just ain't worth much since he can't get much work done without them. The Cajun believes that even if he doesn't have any dogs, chickens, sheep or horses, God will give him plenty to help him. And you will see that plenty on the Cajun farm. When he goes out to tend his crop, he'll have loads of God's creatures around him: Dove, Quail, Wild Turkey, Raccoon, and Skunks. He even will see other animals like: Bobcats (some Fox if he's real lucky), Rabbitts, Geese, Ducks, Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, and Cardinals. Depending upon the season he will also see Robins, and different flying, crawling, and four-footed carnivorous or vegetarian creatures. I guess I've made my point clear about the love the Cajun has for animals, especially his Dog.

One last thing, a Cajun always names his Dog with great respect. He often begins at the beginning of the alphabet and moves onwards from there. Names like Alfred, Arnold, Bobby, Baker, Barney and Clyde are familiar. A Cajun has great respect for his Dog and may name him after some great historical figure like Constantine, Napoleon, Eisenhower or Matthew. If a Cajun has more than one Dog, he gives each one a different name so that he can show respect for each dog he owns. If they are twin dogs or worse still triplets he still gives them each a name commensurate with their standing. A Cajun will never call his Dog Mutt, Hey You, Critter, No Good, Dog, Do Nothing since he would see that as a sign of disrespect. The last thing a Cajun wants to do is to have his neighbor's tell him he has lost his sense of respect for animals among his neighbors since the word may get around town and that is familiar to newcomers, and he would feel shame-faced among his neighbors.

When a Cajun' dog dies, he gives him a decent burial and a unique site for his final resting place. The Cajun is thinking more about making it easy for any of his friends, relatives or acquaintances to come and visit his grave than anything else. The Cajun wants to know that anyone who has known his "best friend" (now in his eternal resting place) will be able to come and say his "thank you's," "goodbyes," or concerns to the deceased "best friend."