On Sunday, March 23, 1710, a Marche was held, proceeding from Ste. Anne’s Catholic Church to the river in an effort at ridding the city of Le Nain Rouge — a short, red-eyed, mysterious, and malevolent figure — and his curse.
According to legend, the dwarf or Le Nain Rouge crossed paths with Detroit founder Antoine Laumet de La Mothe Cadillac. In a confrontation, Cadillac took a swipe at the shrieking, matted creature with his cane. Shortly afterward, Cadillac’s fortunes turned.
Once more — on Sunday March 25, 2018 — Detroiters will hold another Marche du Nain Rouge Detroit to drive away all things that hold Detroit back.
For the full article, see Rebecca Powers, “Detroit’s Mardi Gras: Marche du Nain Rouge in Midtown”, Hour Detroit, March 2012.
Khalil AlHajal, “Detroit’s evil folkloric imp is back to confront costumed paraders at Marche Du Nain Rouge”, MLive, March 22, 2015.
Sheryl James, “The Demon of Detroit”, Michigan History, January/February 2014.
Lee DeVito, “Raising Nain : The legend of Detroit’s Nain Rouge“, Detroit Metro Times, March 16, 2016