Easter egg Pacques

Welcome to Thursday ! Today I am sharing a family Easter tradition:

This custom is carried out in several Cajun communities throughout South Louisiana. In some areas the practice is referred to as “Pacques Pacques”, which simply means “Easter Easter” in French, but is also a play on words because the sound of an egg tapping on another egg makes a sound like “poc” .

The town of Marksville and the neighboring town of Cottonport are unique in that they have organized contests for egg knocking. Marksville was the pioneer in establishing the formalized event in 1956. So join an event or have one yourself to celebrate Easter…Lisa

Outside of organized competition, the tradition of egg knocking is more about bringing the family together than the pock-pock-pocking of eggs going tête-à-tête. The boiling (pointy end down, to avoid air bubbles) and dyeing of the family’s eggs brings everyone around the table, where there is likely plenty of egg salad to go around.

Rules :

You hold your Easter egg in your clenched hand as your opponent knocks his egg against yours. If your egg cracks, you lose.

Where to Try It

• Easter on the Red River FestivalBen Routh Recreational Park, 156 Ben Routh Road, Effie, Louisiana, 71331, United StatesIn addition to the children and adult egg knocking contests, the festival hosts a bonnet competition, a “cake walk,” and, of course, a children’s egg hunt.
• Avoyelles Parish Courthouse417 N Main St, Marksville, Louisiana, 71351, United StatesThe usual spot for Marksville’s annual egg knocking competition.
• Egg Pocking on the Bayou Easter FestivalBryan Street, Cottonport, Louisiana, 71327, United StatesThe Holy Saturday fest also features a 5K and an egg-tossing contest. Knocking commences in the afternoon.