Gheens, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gheens, Louisiana
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 Gheens, Louisiana
Location in Louisiana
Gheens, Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Lafourche |
| Elevation | 3 ft (0.9 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
70355
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| Area code(s) | 985 |
| GNIS feature ID | 554527 |
Gheens, also known as Golden Ranch or Vacherie, is a small community in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. It is called an unincorporated community because it does not have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it is part of the larger parish. The ZIP code for Gheens is 70355.
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Education in Gheens
Kids in Gheens go to public schools run by the Lafourche Parish Public Schools system. These schools help students learn and grow.
Local Schools
Younger students attend Lockport Lower Elementary School and Lockport Upper Elementary School. For middle school, they go to Lockport Middle School. Older students attend Central Lafourche High School. All these schools are located nearby in Lockport.
Libraries and Colleges
The Lafourche Parish Library operates the Gheens Library, where everyone can borrow books and use computers. For students who want to continue their education after high school, Fletcher Technical Community College serves the Lafourche Parish area. Delgado Community College also includes Lafourche Parish in its service area.
Mardi Gras Traditions
Gheens is special because it is one of only two communities in southeastern Louisiana that still celebrate a very old Mardi Gras tradition. This tradition, called the "Mardi Gras chase," has been happening in Gheens since the early 1900s.
The Mardi Gras Chase
After the community's annual Mardi Gras parade, masked men, known as "Mardi Gras," get off trailers. They playfully chase the town's children. The Mardi Gras carry willow branches, which they use to give light taps to the children. This act is symbolic, meaning to help children learn from their mistakes.
Saying "Pardon"
To avoid being tapped, children can kneel and say "pardon." This word means "pardon me" in Cajun French. However, many children choose to run from the Mardi Gras, even if it means they might get a light tap on the back of their legs. The taps are usually very gentle and are part of the fun and tradition.
