Sugar, the honoree at this festival, and the sweetest commodity on the market, has the magic power to turn ordinary dishes into productions worthy of a gourmet’s taste. To the Jesuit Fathers goes the distinction of introducing sugar cane to Louisiana. Because of its rapid growth due to the semi-tropical climate and the ingenuity of a young Frenchman, Etienne De Bore, who discovered the secret of granulated sugar, the entire economy of South Louisiana was changed and the era of large plantations came into existence.
At the conclusion of a successful harvest, the planters rejoiced with a celebration called “apres la roulaison”, meaning to grind or to roll as in crushing the cane to extract the juices. In its infancy, the festival took place “after grinding”, and although the celebration now comes at the end of September, the spirit of the occasion is the same …. one of prayerful thanksgiving and joyful anticipation of fun filled, carefree days.
