Gallery
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
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 The act of throwing beads might be one of the most prominent activities that take place during Mardi Gras. What is known by locals and Mardi Gras goers as “throws,” happens when beads and 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 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. Mardi Gras beads meaning. One of the most common parade throws are Mardi Gras beads. A krewe called the Rex Organization introduced these beaded necklaces in 1921. When they were first introduced, the beads were made of glass and hand knotted on necklaces. Though they began as glass, most of the Mardi Gras beads you see thrown today are made of Each year, more than 1 million people descend on New Orleans for Mardi Gras, an organized parade of debauchery and alcohol-induced torpor where plastic beads are tossed as a kind of currency. 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. Today, beads are by far the most popular Mardi Gras parade throws. They're sold year round as a symbol of New Orleans' French Quarter, where Mardi Gras reaches its most raucous heights. In other parts of the city, parades are festive family events and balls are lavish and elegant, but on Bourbon Street (which isn't actually part of the parade Mardi Gras comes to a close on Tuesday night, and soon, those who celebrate will exclaim “Laissez les bons temps rouler,” or “Let the good times roll” for the last time this Carnival season. In the '70s and '80s aluminum and plastic beads became ubiquitous at Mardi Gras parades. Logically we can assume it's because they're cheaper, easier to mass produce and less likely to injure Regardless of background, Mardi Gras allows people to set aside their differences and join in the fun. The sense of togetherness is one of the key reasons why Mardi Gras has become such an enduring and beloved tradition. A Time for Joy and Indulgence. At its heart, Mardi Gras is a celebration of joy and indulgence. And wait till you hear the ingredient list: 4,000 pounds of Danish flour, 286 pounds of yeast, 428 dozen eggs, 1,178 pounds of water, 8.925 gallons of flavoring, 2,087 pounds of icing, 331 pounds 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? drunk guys who now have a "legit" reason to The first Mardi Gras was held by French settlers on March 3, 1699, in Mobile, Alabama, once the capital of the Louisiana territory. In the late 1820s, the custom of dressing in colorful costumes Beads: Mardi Gras beads come in various materials, such as glass and plastic. Glass beads are often considered more valuable as they are intricate and delicate, while plastic beads are more common. You’ll see beads in an array of colors, each with its own meaning. So, discover how to get beads at Mardi Gras to enjoy this carnival experience Mardi Gras beads are part of a longstanding tradition in the New Orleans celebration of the holiday. Often referred to as “throws,” the beads are tossed off of parade floats to the thousands of onlookers, who then add them to their Mardi Gras-themed costumes. The traditional Mardi Gras beads were made from glass and imported from Beads in traditional Mardi Gras colors decorate floats in the Bastrop Mardi Gras Parade, Feb. 1, 2025. The second annual parade is part of the city's Mardi Gras festival- a cultural exchange with Revellers reach out for beads from a float along St. Charles Ave during The Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 20, 2022. It’s the time of the year again: Mardi Gras. The celebration that starts the Lenten season is held around the world, but the most famous celebration is in New Orleans, Louisiana. The question By 1900, over 100,000 tourists traveled to New Orleans to participate in the celebration and to get some of their own Mardi Gras beads. Over the years, other Mardi Gras souvenirs have also been passed out to the crowds during the parades such as plastic cups, toys, Frisbees, figurines, and doubloons.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |