Mardi Gras throws are strings of beads, doubloons, cups, or other trinkets passed out or thrown from the floats for Mardi Gras celebrations, particularly in New Orleans, the Mobile, Alabama, and parades throughout the Gulf Coast of the United States, to spectators lining the streets. The "gaudy plastic jewelry, toys, and other mementos [are The practice of exposing female breasts in exchange for Mardi Gras beads, however, was mostly limited to tourists in the upper Bourbon Street area. [ 5 ] [ 62 ] In the crowded streets of the French Quarter, generally avoided by locals on Mardi Gras Day, flashers on balconies cause crowds to form on the streets. From high-energy parades to colorful beads and masks, there are dozens of traditions involved in Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday. The holiday which is less than a week away, is just ahead of Known for its spectacular parades, floats, marching bands, throws, and King cake, Mardi Gras is the biggest celebration in New Orleans. The first recorded Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans took Old Mardi Gras beads that fell from an oak tree along St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans on Tuesday, August 3, 2021. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate) CHRIS The 2025 Carnival Season -- marked by a weekslong pre-Lenten bash and complete with colorful parades, shimmery beads tossed from floats and streets lined with costumed revelers -- is reaching its conclusion on the Gulf Coast. Mardi Gras can make a lot of trash, adding up to millions of pounds each year. Now, some parades in New Orleans are cutting down on their environmental footprint by banning plastic beads. The throwing of trinkets to the crowds was started in the early 1870s by the Twelfth Night Revelers, and is a time-honored expectation for young and old alike. Read more. The current cost of 50 cents per strand of beads is a major improvement over earlier iterations and makes these biodegradable beads far more competitive with traditional Mardi Gras beads. And the team believes the costs can go even lower. Facilitating do-it-yourself printing Plastic beads rose to popularity as recently as the 1960s. The first recorded bead “throw” occurred in the mid- to late-1800s. Then, however, krewes threw beads created with handmade glass from Czechoslovakia. These more delicate beads were supplanted by the plastic throws that now account for over $11.8 million in sales. 1. Holiday history of 🎆🎉 Mardi Gras. Originally the name “Mardi Gras” or “Boeuf Gras” in the Middle Ages meant the traditional killing of a 🐂 Bull before Lent. In 1699 Jean-Baptiste Le Moine de Bienville came to the New World and created the settlement Pointe du Mardi Gras, which was named after the medieval tradition. Mardi Gras (UK: / ˌ m ɑːr d i ˈ ɡ r ɑː /, US: / ˈ m ɑːr d i ɡ r ɑː /; [1] [2] also known as Shrove Tuesday) is the final day of Carnival (also known as Shrovetide or Fastelavn); it thus falls on the day before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. [3] Koerner writes that the first to toss beads was a man dressed as Santa Claus. The beads were an instant hit and were soon adopted by all krewes to throw in their parades. According to John Roach's article, "The Rich History of Mardi Gras's Cheap Trinkets," early glass beads were imported from Czechoslovakia or Japan. Our store has one of the largest inventories of Mardi Gras party supplies found anywhere. Your choices for Mardi Gras beads are endless! We have them in all shapes, sizes, lengths, and colors. We have a huge selection of themes and designs in our specialty beads with more than 300 hand-strung beads to choose from. Our Mardi Gras beads are sold by the bag or for better pricing buy by the case. Mardi Gras beads come in many different sizes, shapes, and colors. Ranging from 33" to 100" and 7mm to 22mm! Abandoned Mardi Gras beads on the George Washington University campus.jpg 1,080 × 620; 469 KB Beads on pole - Galveston Mardi Gras.jpg 4,000 × 6,000; 6.25 MB Key West Fantasy Fest 2004 by Michel Curi 01.jpg 1,024 × 1,536; 540 KB 144PCS Mardi Gras Beads Necklaces - 33" Assorted Colors Beaded Necklaces for Mardi Gras, Carnival, Pirate Parties, Masquerade and Christmas, Bulk Parade Throws and Mardi Gras beads are more than just plastic trinkets. Their colors hold symbolic meaning tied to the history and traditions of Carnival. Rare specialty beads are coveted treasures. Beads act as currency to spread festivity. Though cheap to produce, beads embody connection during Mardi Gras celebrations. 144PCS Mardi Gras Beads, Mardi Gras Green Purple Gold Metallic Beads Necklaces Accessories Bulk, Mardi Gras Beads Necklace Costumes Women Men Kids for Parade Throws Party Decorations Favor Supplies 4.6 out of 5 stars 184 To avoid competition with Krewe du Vieux, the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus moved to the 4th Saturday before Mardi Gras, solidly outside of city-designated Carnivale season. This change made them the first large parade during the month before Mardi Gras Day. [31] Parade 2021: Saturday, January 23 - canceled due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |