Frottoir is the French word for
the Zydeco Rubboard that was
designed especially for this
genre of music and it means
“friction strip”
In 1991 Governor Buddy
Roemer proclaimed January
22nd as Creole Heritage
Day in Louisiana.
Since then 22 other states
and 36 cities have also
proclaimed this date
Creole Heritage Day
In 2002 this unique pe rcussion
Instrument was entered into
the permanent collection at the
Smithsonian National Museum
of American History in
Washington, DC
The Frottoir is now regarded
as one of the first percussion
instruments created in the U.S,
as most instruments originally
came from other countries.
In addition to all the zydeco
bands using the rubboard to
provide rhythm,
several popular rock and
country bands like ZZ Top,
Paul Simon & Bruce Springsteen have also used it
Gumbo is a
world famous
Creole dish.
It comes from
the African
word for okra
Established in 1998, the Louisiana
Creole Heritage Center at Northwestern University in Natchitoches has a
partnership with Tulane University in
New Orleans. They are one of the
most respected leaders of the
Creole preservation effort in this
state and in the country.
Visit them at
Mardi Gras is French
for “Fat Tuesday”
Mardi=Tuesday
Gras=Fat
In medieval France a
fatted bull was butchered
the day before Lent, a
period in which eating
meat was forbidden.
The Creole Flag
The fleur de lis represents
the French heritage. The
lower and upper right both
represent the African
heritage of Creoles with
the flag of Mali and the
star of Senegal.
The Spanish Heritage is
represented by the Tower
of Castille all connected
by a cross signifies their
deep Christian faith
Today many Creoles still
make this sacrifice for
Lent. They may also give
up other things as well.
Some of the children give
up candy for the Lenten
period that lasts 40 days
from Ash Wednesday
until Easter Sunday.
The Couleurs of Mardi Gras
Purple=Justice
Green=Faith
Gold=Power
www.nsula.edu/creole
The accordion provides the
melody in zydeco music.
It was brought to America by the
Germans and sold to the Creole
after the Civil War.
In Zydeco music the chromatic
and diatonic button accordions, as
well as the piano key are all
commonly played in zydeco.
The accordion is an old world
instrument that is played in folk and
roots music all over the world:
Russia, Germany, Italy, Poland,
Brazil (Forro) and in the Cajun and
Cajunto music of the US