Bourre' history

[Brennan Cropper]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could direct me to or maybe offer some info
on the history of bourre' (I think that's the correct spelling). For those
who *may not* know what bourre' is, it's a card game played *very* frequently
in Acadiana that is very similar to spades, but the main difference is that
in bourre' any suit can be trumps during a game. That's a very incomplete
description of the game, but hopefully someone will know what I'm talking
about.

As younger children, we used to watch our parents play bourre' every
time the family would get together. It would be a real good time shared by
everyone playing. I was just wondering about the history of the game and
how it is related to the Cajun culture. Please, if anyone can shed any
light on this, I would be extremely happy to hear about it.

Another totally unrelated question that I've had for a long time is on
the spelling of a Cajun phrase that means, "But, look at that!". It's
"Mais, 'gardez dans!" (May - godday - dohn). I'm not sure on the spelling
of the words though. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks for the help.

Brennan
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[Brian Comeaux]

The phrase you allude to at the end of your message is "Gardez, donc." It
is
used a lot in Cajun music and means, "look, therefore."
BGC

[Shane K. Bernard]

In article <3120DE...@cs.arizona.edu>, Brennan Cropper <bre...@cs.arizona.edu> says:

>Another totally unrelated question that I've had for a long time is on
>the spelling of a Cajun phrase that means, "But, look at that!". It's
>"Mais, 'gardez dans!" (May - godday - dohn). I'm not sure on the spelling
>of the words though. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I think the expression is "Gardes dedans," literally "Look inside," but
translated more figuratively as "Look at that." Maybe someone else here
knows better, though. . . .

SKB
Cajun in Exile

[Tom Coleman]

Don't know much about the history of bourre' but I played it enough. I
remember when I was first learning I took lessons from a professional
player. Only cost me about two or three hundred dollars. :-)

[Shane K. Bernard]

Brian,

Do you know of a La. French expression of kinship or affection that is
rendered something like "monan"? I see this in an old letter I am trying
to transcribe, and the person appears to be referring to an aunt.

Also, can you answer my query about "gardes dedans" -- it is an actual
expression for "Look at that", isn't it?

Thanks,

SKB

[Brian Comeaux]

The first one is tough, since I am not aware of any such expression
("monan),
maybe, , "ma tante" for my aunt or "mon ami(e) for "my friend".

Gardes dedans would mean "look inside".

Sincerely,

BGC

[Renee Bougard]

Shane,

Could it possibly be "nanan?" (Pronounced nan-nan, with emphasis on the
last syllable). That's what we called my brother's godmother, who was
also my father's sister.

Renee'
REN...@LIBRARY.TMC.EDU

[Lowell Mallais]

In article <4g07vu$7...@news.tamu.edu> skb...@tam2000.tamu.edu (Shane K. Bernard) writes:
>Path:
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>.jsums.edu!news.uoregon.edu!news.u.washington.edu!uw-beaver!newsfeed.rice.edu!bc
>m.tmc.edu
>!news.tamu.edu!news
>From: skb...@tam2000.tamu.edu (Shane K. Bernard)
>Newsgroups: alt.culture.cajun
>Subject: Question
>Date: 15 Feb 1996 21:18:54 GMT
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>X-Newsreader: WinVN 0.92.6+

>Brian,

Good day

gardes dedans = to me would be: " keep it to yourself" or " keep it inside"
or "look inside" or don't say anything

Lowell

[Michel Catudal]

>>Do you know of a La. French expression of kinship or affection that is
>>rendered something like "monan"? I see this in an old letter I am trying
>>to transcribe, and the person appears to be referring to an aunt.

Are you sure it wasn't "moman"? if this is the case it means "Mommy"

Michel Catudal
Un Americain Francophone

[Tom Coleman]

In article <baspuit.15...@nbnet.nb.ca>, bas...@nbnet.nb.ca (Lowell
Mallais) wrote:

>
>
>
> >Brian,

>
> >Do you know of a La. French expression of kinship or affection that is
> >rendered something like "monan"? I see this in an old letter I am trying
> >to transcribe, and the person appears to be referring to an aunt.
>

> >Also, can you answer my query about "gardes dedans" -- it is an actual
> >expression for "Look at that", isn't it?
>
>
> Good day
>
> gardes dedans = to me would be: " keep it to yourself" or " keep it inside"
> or "look inside" or don't say anything
>
> Lowell

My wife and mother-in-law use the term "Mais, gardes dedans, ca" usually
as a term of disgust. Especially when watching daytime talk shows; I hear
it a lot.

[Pierre Ouellette]

In article <tomc-19029...@thebe05.netdepot.com>, to...@netdepot.com
(Tom Coleman) wrote:

I trust you will not mind an interjection at this point...

"Monan" seem like a dirivision of "mouman' which is slang for "maman"
which means mother. As to "garde dedans" the expression seems to come
from "regarde dedans" which translates loosely as "look inside" but has
been used in the contexts noted by Lowell. pierreO

[Brian Comeaux]

My interjection here is on the "gardes dedans" expression. I think what
they are actually saying, at least how I have always heard and used this
very common expression is " 'gardez donc" which could come from
"regardez
donc" but also makes perfect sense as "gardez donc" as both the verbs
"regarder" and "garder" would usually fit whenever this expression is
used.
It is usually used as an expression of mild surprise or even in proper
context as mild disgust.

Brian Gabriel Comeaux

[Tisserand]

In article <4gi0t8$28...@usenetp1.news.prodigy.com>, GZE...@prodigy.com
(Brian Comeaux) writes:

Incidentally, "'Gardez Donc! (Look At That!)" is the second track on Beau
Jocque's Rounder CD "Pick Up On This." The lyrics are French.

[Steve Edwards]

to...@netdepot.com (Tom Coleman) wrote:

i am glad to see a discussion of bourre'. i have been trying to teach
the residents of florida how to play but can not find any books that
give the rules.

i played a lot while in school in new orleans many years ago, but now
i am fuzzy on a few of the details. my question is: what card does
the dealer turn up to declare a no-trump game?

anyone that can give me any clues on where to find a good rules book
will be greatly appreciated.

thanks, steve in sunny florida.

[Terry J. LeBlanc]

Wow, that brings back memories! Don't know about books on the game, but
I'd also love to see the "official" rules. Seems like I remember
playing fast and loose with some of the "rules" sometimes. <g> That's
been a long time ago... Great game. Tends to be expensive to learn,
eh? I remember playing as kids, instead of playing for money, we would
play NOT to get rapped across the knuckles with the deck of cards.
Anybody else do this? <g> Or is this sadistic version unique to my
cousins? <g> I'd love to know the actual history (and the actual rules)
of the game.
--
_____________________________________________________________

Terry J. LeBlanc Email: TLeB...@ix.netcom.com
MIS Manager Phone: (954) 984-2313
Lambda Novatronics FAX: (954) 984-2395
_____________________________________________________________

[mich...@netwave.net]

Re: Steve Edwards posted asking where to find a Bourre{boo-ray} rules book.

On page 13 of Floyds Catalog there is a soft cover book on Bourre covering
rules, techniques, history, glossary plus a few recipes and storys.
Its called-> BOURRE - The Cajun Card Game Its $4.95 at:
Floyds Record Shop, Ville Platte, LA 1-800-738-8668 or 318-363-4893
I think Glen Pitre's Louisiana Catalog also has it too.

Michael Clark
mich...@netwave.net
born of a cajun mother

In article <4hbjr4$o...@news.tamu.edu>, skb...@tam2000.tamu.edu (Shane K.
Bernard) wrote:

>In article <4hautq$d...@siesta.packet.net>, edw...@flnet.com (Steve

Edwards) says:
>
>>anyone that can give me any clues on where to find a good rules book
>>will be greatly appreciated.
>

>There is a Hoyle handbook of various cardgames (dozens of games, in fact)
>that you can buy in just about any bookstore . . . and bouree is
>explained in that Hoyle book (at least, it is the one my grandmother in
>Opelousas has -- not that she needs a handbook to play bouree).
>
>SKB

[Steve Edwards]

In article <michaelc-080...@ppps5.netwave.net>, mich...@netwave.net wrote:
>For those who missed my post on where to get a book on BOURRE, here it is.

another book that has a short description of bourre' is Scarne's Encyclopedia
of Card Games, 1973, 1983. the Bookstop carries it. It also describes a
version called "three card boo-ray" where you don't draw cards but deal extra
hands that can be used to play each round.

is anyone familiar with the three card version? sound like it could be
expensive.