Laborde verifies that the colors of Mardi Gras can be traced to the first Rex parade in 1872. He cites newspapers of the day that included a proclamation from the King of the Carnival deigning that balconies should be draped in purple, green and gold. The colors have become so intertwined with Mardi Gras that their mere presence can evoke the spirit of the celebration, even in places far from New Orleans. Cultural Evolution and Global Influence. The impact of these Mardi Gras colors has spread well beyond their initial purpose, inspiring artists, designers, and cultural festivities globally. The traditional Mardi Gras colors are purple, gold and green. When celebrating Mardi Gras, you can use any shade of the three hues. You’ll spot these iconic colors everywhere: Mardi Gras is celebrated in many cities and towns around the world, each with its own unique twist on the traditional colors. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for example, the colors are a vibrant mix of green, gold, and purple, reflecting the city’s Afro-Brazilian cultural heritage. The colors of Mardi Gras – purple, green, and gold, can be found as early as 1872 at a carnival organized by the company Rex for a Russian aristocrat’s arrival. Rex has held parades in New Orleans for 148 years and continues to be its most prominent parade organizer to date. A key part of the visual identity of Mardi Gras are the traditional colors of purple, green and gold that are found everywhere during the celebrations. The Meaning Behind the Colors. The three official colors of Mardi Gras each have their own significance: Purple represents justice. Green represents faith. Gold represents power. We’ll look at the origins of how these colors came to represent Mardi Gras in New Orleans and the roles they play in the parades, costumes, and celebrations. Understanding the background of the Mardi Gras colors provides a deeper appreciation for the rich culture and customs around this world-famous carnival. The traditional Mardi Gras colors are a key part of the celebration’s identity and symbolism, and can be used in a variety of ways to add a touch of Mardi Gras flair to your own celebrations. Whether you’re decorating your home, making costumes, or creating dishes and cocktails, the traditional Mardi Gras colors are a great way to get into Before Rex made them official, the traditional Mardi Gras colors followed a different order: purple, gold, and green. The colors were sometimes varied with red replacing purple. So while purple, green, and gold have long been associated with Mardi Gras in New Orleans, their set order changed over time. Some say the Mardi Gras colors were inspired from the colors of the house of the grand duke. Errol Laborde, editor of the New Orleans Magazine, wrote a different explanation in his book called Marched the Day God: A History of the Rex Organization (affiliate link). A flag in the traditional colors, as specified in the Rex organization's original edict and in compliance with the rule of tincture. The colors traditionally associated with Mardi Gras in New Orleans are purple, green, and gold. The colors were first specified in proclamations by the Rex organization during the lead-up to their inaugural parade 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. In the view of certain native cognoscenti, the rampant exploitation of the boobs-for-beads free-for-all by media outlets and video producers has tarnished the city’s image and overshadowed the traditional family orientation of Mardi Gras. But like it or not, Mardi Gras immodesty has become a leisure activity and a bona fide tourist attraction. The cake is then topped with a sweet glaze and decorated with purple, green, and gold icing, which are the traditional colors of Mardi Gras. The process of making a Chantilly King Cake is time-consuming and labor-intensive, but it is well worth the effort. The official colors of New Orleans Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. The Krewe of Rex chose these colors in 1872 in part to honor the Russian Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich Romanov, who visited New Orleans during that year’s carnival season. The Mardi Gras Punch is a bold and flavorful party drink, perfect for celebrating Mardi Gras with a crowd. Inspired by the classic Hurricane, this punch blends light and dark rum with vibrant citrus flavors and passion fruit juice, creating a rich, tropical base with just the right amount of tartness and sweetness. Rex, one of the oldest Mardi Gras krewes, has been participating in parades since 1872 and established purple, gold and green as the iconic Mardi Gras colors. Louisiana is the only state in which In conclusion, the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold have a rich history and tradition associated with the festival. The colors represent justice, faith, and power and are used to adorn the streets of New Orleans and other cities across the world. These three colors are the traditional colors of Mardi Gras. During the Mardi Gras parade in 1872, the krewe of Rex assigned Mardi Gras its colors. Twenty years later in 1892, the Rex krewe threw a parade called “the Symbolism of Colors”.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |