Ritualized inebriation, violence, and social control in Cajun Mardi Gras

The rural Mardi Gras run is a rite of reversal in which a rowdy band of cos tumed merrymakers visits homes and businesses to collect "charity" for a co mmunal supper. Unorthodox conduct, misbehavior, and violence in this contex t are often directly linked to intoxication. However, such drunkenness is a form of ritualized inebriation that develops through drinking, the sense o f freedom afforded by participants' anonymity, and their assuming expected roles for the deep play associated with Mardi Gras. Violence and misconduct are largely attributable to overzealous play, loss of temper, personal con flicts, and spectators' negative reactions to Mardi Gras antics. Although s eemingly chaotic, Mardi Gras follows an idealized script and it has mechani sms of control which mediate between acceptable drinking behavior and play and actual intoxication and misbehavior. There is, however, a negotiable gr ay area within this spectrum that reflects variation within the Cajun cultu ral ethos especially pertaining to drinking behavior.