The Truth About the Purple, Green, and Gold of Mardi Gras. Apparently, most of New Orleans is wrong about the origin of Mardi Gras colors. Yes, they’re purple, green and gold. And in 1892, the Rex parade theme "Symbolism of Colors" gave meaning to these colors. Purple Represents Justice. Green Represents Faith. Gold Represents Power. 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. The vibrant colors of purple, green, and gold are now closely associated with Mardi Gras celebrations around the globe, but they symbolize much more than just festive decorations. Their deep-rooted significance dates back to 1872 when the Rex Organization, one of the leading Carnival krewes in New Orleans, first brought them into the celebration. The traditional Mardi Gras colors are purple, gold and green. When celebrating Mardi Gras, you can use any shade of the three hues. The Mardi Gras colors weren’t given an official meaning 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. The harmonious blend of purple, green, and gold creates a visual symphony that captures the essence of Mardi Gras. These colors, each with its own unique meaning, come together to represent the multifaceted nature of this vibrant celebration. The colors purple, green, and gold have become an iconic symbol of Mardi Gras celebrations across New Orleans. Though the palette was chosen originally by Rex in 1872, the traditional trio has taken on rich meaning aligned with faith, justice, and power. Choosing purple, green and gold as the colors of Mardi Gras would mean their flag would contain three colors that were unlikely to be seen in other flags, making it more recognizable. The colors of Mardi Gras meaning. While the Mardi Gras colors were chosen in 1872, it wasn’t until 1892 that they were each assigned their meanings. The colors that represent Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold, and each color has a specific meaning and history behind it. The tradition of using colors to represent Mardi Gras dates back to the 1800s. The Krewe of Rex, a New Orleans Mardi Gras organization, first used the colors of purple, green, and gold in 1892. The Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold have a rich history and significance, and are an integral part of the celebration’s tradition and culture. They are used to represent the three virtues of faith, justice, and charity, and are often worn as a symbol of one’s devotion and commitment to their faith. Mardi Gras Colors in Contemporary Celebrations In the modern era, the Mardi Gras colors continue to play a central role in the celebration's visual identity. From dazzling costumes and elaborate floats to decorations adorning the streets, the vibrant trio of purple, green, and gold is a visual feast for all revelers. Green is the correct liturgical color for the weeks of Ordinary Time between Epiphany and Lent: that’s Mardi Gras season, so it fits well. Purple, then, is included for the season of penance The colors purple, green, and gold each have symbolic meaning related to Mardi Gras and the Carnival season. Purple represents justice. During Lent, fasting and prayer are used to reflect on spiritual matters rather than worldly pleasures. The prevalence of purple, green and gold makes them undeniably synonymous with Mardi Gras festivities. Seeing those colors immediately places one in the Mardi Gras spirit. Other Symbolic Mardi Gras Colors. While purple, green and gold are the core iconic trio, other colors hold meaning in Mardi Gras as well: – The color mardi gras is a medium dark shade of magenta, with a hexadecimal number of 880085. #880085 in RGB colors is made up of 53.33% red, 0% green, and 52.16% blue. #880085 is a 301* (degrees) shade in the HSL color space, with 100% saturation and 27% lightness. Here are some famous examples where purple, green, and gold hold symbolic meaning together: Mardi Gras – During New Orleans carnival season, these colors represent justice (purple), faith (green), and power (gold). Pan-African Flag – Designed in 1920, red, green, and gold signify the blood, nature, and prosperity of Africa. Purple, Green and Gold: The Colors of Mardi Gras. One of the things that brings Mardi Gras to life are the colors associated with the celebration – purple, green and gold. It is thought that these colors were introduced by the Krewe of Rex in 1872. But it wasn’t until 20 years later that the meaning of the colors was revealed. What's the story behind this trio of colors, though? Like most things Mardi Gras, the tradition has historic roots. The Rex organization in New Orleans first proclaimed purple, green, and gold the official Mardi Gras parade colors in 1872, according to Mardi Gras New Orleans. In 1892, the organization declared that purple represents justice The colors of Mardi Gras first surfaced in New Orleans, but it's not clear why purple, green and gold were chosen. Those colors appeared in 1872 as part of a spectacle honoring the New Orleans But the rainbow magic is found in the glaze and sprinkles, which are usually gold, green, and purple. Even the colors of the icing (and royal colors of Mardi Gras) have a deeper meaning. Gold represents power, green is associated with faith, and purple illustrates justice.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |