Bon Tintamarre! What was that? I couldn't hear what you said. I said, "Bon Tinta... Oh, never mind."
You might as well give up. There's no use trying to talk during Tintamarre (pronounced tantamar) It's a "grand bruit discordant," says Le Petit Robert French dictionary. A big ugly noise would be a fair translation.
Up here, it's an ear-splitting, joyful hullabaloo that erupts on the main street every August 15, the national day for Acadians, a celebration for everything Acadian. Thousands flock from all over the Maritimes and from Quebec to add to the clangour. Cajuns come up from Louisiana, that's how big an occasion it is, and there are RV's from Ontario.
For one deafening hour, everyone raucously ambles up and down the middle of the road--- up and down, up and down--- celebrating being Acadian. If you're not Acadian, it doesn't matter. Women ring bells, kids blow horns, teachers slap wooden spoons together, sirens wail, and drums beat. Many are wearing the colours of the Acadian flag.
There can even be goats dyed with Kool-Aid, blue and red, some are left white that join the parade. Some families’ last names have created animal nick names for them. Often these families will dress up as these creatures and join the parade. There has even been skunks who shoot water at the crowd from under their tail! |
