Gallery
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Several of the Mardi Gras symbols tie directly to the religious meaning of Mardi Gras, so to understand the symbols, we need to understand the religious context of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras celebrates the conclusion of the Carnival season, which begins on January 6th and ends with Mardi Gras. January 6th is known as Epiphany. Float riders toss beads, cups and doubloons to fans and revelers in the 2013 Krewe of Bacchus Mardi Gras Parade on Feb. 10, 2013, in New Orleans Skip Bolen—Getty Images Beads and Throws 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. Mardi Gras Krewes are social organizations or groups that put on parades, balls, and other events during the Carnival season leading up to Mardi Gras. Krewes are a significant part of Mardi Gras celebrations, organizing and participating in various festivities, including elaborate parades featuring floats, costumes, and throws (items tossed to Mardi Gras, celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday, is a time for feasting before the start of the Lenten fasting period. Do Mardi Gras Beads Have a Meaning? Mardi Gras beads do have meanings. They symbolize prosperity, faith, and power. During parades, beads are thrown to spread joy and unity. "The Mardi Gras King (New Orleans) in 1982 gave each color its own meaning: purple for justice, green means faith, and gold represent power." The act of throwing the beads to parade goers is really just a way to get people riled up. I thought I would find that it signified the royal krewes passing magical power to those who caught beads, but nope. Beads Beyond Mardi Gras: Year-Round Meaning Although Mardi Gras is the most prominent time to flaunt bead necklaces, their significance extends beyond the festive season. In New Orleans, bead necklaces are also associated with other events and occasions such as Saints football games, music festivals, and various parades throughout the year. 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 Mardi Gras Indians continue to evolve with the times, yet they remain a lasting reflection of the foundation of deep cultural exchange in New Orleans. Initially, their traditions honored their What do Traditional Mardi Gras Colors Mean? The traditional Mardi Gras colors are purple, green, and gold. Green represents faith, purple represents justice, and gold symbolizes power. This color scheme is thought to be borrowed from one of the oldest New Orleans krewes, or social clubs, Rex Krewe. BONUS: According to legend, Mardi Gras colors influenced the choice of school colors for archrivals Louisiana State University and Tulane University. They say when LSU was deciding on its colors, the shops in New Orleans had stocked up on purple, green, and gold for the Mardi Gras season. Mardi Gras is an annual pre-Lent celebration and New Orleans tradition. But where did the tradition of flashing for beads at Mardi Gras come from? 33" Round Pearl White Mardi Gras Beads (Case - 60 Dozen) $76.99 72 inch 16mm Round Pearl White Mardi Gras Beads - Dozen (12 necklaces) $21.11 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 Both Zulu and Rex hold their own parades during Mardi Gras, as well as many other Mardi-Gras-related celebrations throughout the preceding weeks. One tradition that comes before the Zulu and Rex parades is a Mardi Gras ball: a traditional dance that functions a little bit like a high school prom. Mardi Gras masks are more than just festive accessories—they carry a rich history and cultural significance. Every detail, Mardi Gras color and design tells a story, and the artists who craft The tradition of throwing beads at Mardi Gras started in the early 1900s, and it was initially just small glass beads. However, the practice really took off in the 1960s, when plastic beads became more widely available, and the size and variety of beads increased. The meaning behind Mardi Gras beads is steeped in symbolism. (Bourbon Street balconies during Mardi Gras are now sold to news media, large corporations, or long-term customers up to five years in advance.) Sadly, many bystanders caught in this crowd will never return to Mardi Gras, because they don't realize they did not experience the "real" Mardi Gras. When used in the context of modern tourism promotion, it generally implies a somewhat ambiguous, romanticized mélange of indigenous architecture, food, music and Old World customs. “Creole Mardi Gras” has a more specific meaning, however—referencing the celebration in the antebellum era, before the advent of the krewe system. Mardi Gras beads are a colorful and festive part of the annual celebration in New Orleans, Louisiana. But what do they really mean? Mardi Gras beads are given out to revelers during the parade season leading up to Mardi Gras Day. They are usually made of colorful plastic and are often decorated with images of saints, animals, or other symbols.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |