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. What do the Mardi Gras colors mean? LiliGraphie/Getty Images. The Mardi Gras colors weren’t given an official meaning until 1892, when the Rex parade had the theme “Symbolism of Colors.” 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 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. 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. According to New Orleans legend, the Mardi Gras colors were first established in 1892 by the Rex Organization, whose members chose the purple, green and gold theme based on their personal ties to Russian nobility. Purple, green and gold were the heraldic colors of the Romanoff dynasty, the royal house of Russia. 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 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 visit of Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia during carnival season. The Rex Organization was created to help welcome the Grand Duke that same year. As Mardi Gras approaches, the streets come alive with vibrant hues of purple, green, and gold. These iconic colors aren't just a random selection; they carry a rich history deeply embedded in the traditions of this festive celebration. In this post, we'll delve into the captivating history of the Mardi Gras colors and the cultural significance they hold. Purple: Symbolism of Justice The regal 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 What do the purple, gold and green mean? A Service of EWTN News, Inc. arch-historian of Mardi Gras. Purple must have been selected a classic sign of royalty. And gold, since the laws of the 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 So while purple, green, and gold have long been associated with Mardi Gras in New Orleans, their set order changed over time. The order of green, gold, and purple became solidified once Rex proclaimed them the official colors in 1872. The story behind these colors is a fascinating journey through history, tradition, and symbolism, revealing a deeper meaning behind the festive spectacle. The Royal Origins of Mardi Gras Colors. The association of purple, green, and gold with Mardi Gras can be traced back to the 18th century in the French Quarter of New Orleans. For party animals, few holidays match the joy (and mayhem) of Mardi Gras. If you count yourself among them, you know that the vibrant New Orleans tradition takes place on Fat Tuesday—that’s 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. However, what’s the true history of Mardi Gras colors? Apparently, most of the city was mistaken about the history of Mardi Gras colors. While the historic Mardis Gras colors have always been gold, green, and purple ever since the 1892 Rex parades, there have been rumors persisting for over 100 years as to the reasons why. The color purple has been intertwined with Mardi Gras for generations. It is one of the traditional Mardi Gras colors along with gold and green. The specific shade of purple associated with Mardi Gras is known as “justice purple”. Purple’s connection to Mardi Gras stems from Medieval Europe when purple dye was very rare and expensive.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |