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If you think Mardi Gras masks are as cool as we do, and are looking for a fun Mardi Gras activity to do with your kids, make sure you check out the Mardi Gras coloring page at the bottom of this post. Meaning of the fleur de lis. One of the Mardi Gras symbols that is found year round in New Orleans is the fleur-de-lis. Louisiana's rich French Catholic history influences the symbols and traditions of Mardi Gras. What Do Bead Necklaces Mean in New Orleans? Bead necklaces in New Orleans hold significant meanings during Mardi Gras. They symbolize camaraderie, celebration, and unity, often thrown from parade floats to spectators. Different colors carry specific 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 History of Mardi Gras Beads. The tradition of throwing beaded necklaces dates back to the early Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans in the late 1800s. At first, the beads were made of glass and were much fancier and elaborate than the plastic beads used today. Beads are thrown at Mardi Gras as a way for people on the floats to interact with the crowd and share in the celebration. It has become a tradition to throw beads, along with other items like stuffed animals and light-up necklaces, to the spectators during Mardi Gras parades. What do the beads mean in Louisiana? In Louisiana, the beads often The tradition of throwing Mardi Gras beads to spectators during the parade started in the early 1870s with an individual dressed as Santa Claus passing out gifts to spectators as he passed by. Wikipedia Meaning and Symbolism Behind the Colors. The official colors of Mardi Gras were established in 1872 by the Krewe of Rex and represent justice The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced back to ancient Rome, and the tradition of giving bead necklaces dates back almost as far. In Rome, the celebration of Saturnalia – a week-long festival honoring the god Saturn – included a tradition of exchanging gifts. 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 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. Mardi Gras is French for "fat Tuesday" and embodies the abandonment and indulgence that many engage in before plunging into the 40 days of Lent that immediately follow. The beads that many revelers wear and pass around during the festivities are purple, green and gold, representing not just the celebration's Catholic roots, but also an homage What Does Mardi Gras Mean? Mardi is the French word for Tuesday, and gras means “fat.” In France, the day before Ash Wednesday came to be known as Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday.” The thing to remember when it comes to celebrating Mardi Gras is that flashing for beads isn’t considered a tradition by the locals, so, obviously, you don’t have to feel pressured to do it. By the time Mardi Gras is over, thousands of shiny necklaces litter the streets, and partiers have collectively produced roughly 150 tons of waste – a concoction of puke, toxins and trash. During the late 1800s, inexpensive necklaces made of glass beads began to be tossed into the crowds by the parade krewes. The beads were an instant hit among the crowds of New Orleans residents and visiting Mardi Gras tourists. In fact, Mardi Gras, aka Fat Tuesday, has a long history that predates the colonization of the U.S., and actually started in medieval Europe.In New Orleans, the celebration of Mardi Gras started 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. Every true Mardi Gras parade is led by Flambeaux, torch-bearers who light the way for the coming procession. The tradition arose out of necessity for revelers to see parades that took place at night. Flambeaux often twirl or throw their lit torches for a little extra flame-filled flair. The goal of Mardi Gras is to have a grand old time before Lent begins, and that means anything goes. Traditions like public nudity, drinking tons of alcohol, and tossing flaming torches are all long-standing rituals at your typical New Orleans Mardi Gras parade. The Mardi Gras Colors: What Do They Mean? 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. The history behind the Mardi Gras beads is that the tradition started when necklaces were thrown instead of medallions to the public. The colors that are most common are green, purple and gold.
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