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“The MoonPie became a staple throw in Mobile in the early 60s,” said Gulledge. “Members from a local ladies’ organization were in Chattanooga at a convention meeting and ran across some MoonPies, and thought they would make a great throw. The reasoning? They are soft and have some weight to them, so when the ladies’ tossed them, they The tradition of throwing Moon Pies during Mardi Gras parades can be traced back to the early 20th century, when the snack was first created in the South. The reasoning behind tossing these sweet treats is believed to have originated from throwing other small, inexpensive items to the crowd. Moon Pies quickly became a popular choice due to their affordability and portability. Today, thousands The Chattanooga Bakery began making moon pies in 1916. They first came in graham cracker cookies with a marshmallow center. Now, the famed cookies come in chocolate, banana, coconut, orange, and vanilla. Mardi Gras pies are smaller than the original pies and come in a silver wrapper, often with an organization's emblem on the wrapper. The most common food items that are thrown during Mardi Gras parades are beads, candy, and doubloons (metal coins). However, anything edible can be fair game. So, why do people throw food during Mardi Gras parades? There are a few reasons. First, it is seen as a way to share the spirit of Mardi Gras with others. To this day, Moon Pies are one of the most popular throws in south Alabama and often seen outside Mobile, too, in places like Slidell, Louisiana, where an entire parade celebrates the snack, throwing more than 50,000 in a single year. Still, "Moon Pies are the tip of the iceberg," Blackwell said. Mardi Gras pies are smaller than the original pies and come in a silver wrapper, often with an organization’s emblem on the wrapper. Moon Pies also come in various flavors. Moon Pie is a trade marked name of the Chattanooga bakery in Tennessee. These are still wrapped in it’s colorful package. Years later, mystic societies in Mobile adopted the moon pie in a search for something softer to throw to parade-goers than the traditional box of Cracker Jack’s. The Moon Pie was a hit with parade-goers. Today some half a million Chattanooga Moon Pies (the only “official” moon pie) are said to be thrown during Mobile Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras pies are smaller than the original pies and come in a silver wrapper, often with an organization's emblem on the wrapper. Mardi Gras pies come now in strawberry, and apple. Filed Under : mardi gras , moon pie , newsletter , parade throws "Throw me something, Mister!" is a common phrase heard in the streets during Mardi Gras season in coastal Alabama and Mississippi. The beloved Moon Pie is one of the most coveted throws, with some Snacking On A Moon Pie . The plush, marshmallow-filled snack cake got its start when it was suggested as an alternative throw to Cracker Jack boxes for Mobile Mardi Gras parades. Somehow the sweet treat stuck, and today it’s part of the Mardi Gras cannon. In Mobile, the new year is rung in every year with the dropping of a giant Moon Pie. A moon pie and Mardi Gras beads. Photo by author. They used to throw boxes of Cracker Jacks but then began throwing the MoonPies because they were only a nickel a piece. Much cheaper than Today's guest is none other than Stephen Toomey, the owner of Toomey's Mardi Gras Store, an iconic institution that has been a staple of Mobile's Carnival scene since the 1970s. If you're a Mobilian, you're surely familiar with Toomey's - the go-to place for Moon Pies, beads, trinkets, and all things Mardi Gras. Well, they are exactly what they sound like - items that krewe members on floats throw to parade-goers as the floats pass by! Throws often include doubloons, beads, cups, homemade trinkets, toys and more! When we yell “Throw me something, Mister!” at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, we really mean “throw me something cool.” Unlike parades in other parts of the world where you just watch, Mardi Gras parades are an interactive activity and the better your booty haul at the end of the night, the better you consider the parade. In addition, earlier in the evening the largest edible moon pie is served in one of the hotel courtyards. Moon pies first became popular here in the 1940’s and 50’s when Mardi Gras parade organizers decided to replace the cracker jacks they had been throwing with the softer moon pies which were easier to toss. Chattanooga Bakery also releases special limited-edition flavors during Mardi Gras, like coconut and salted caramel, and they sell others during the year, like pumpkin spice and lemon. Today MoonPies, once a distinctly Southern treat, have made their way across the United States. It’s possible to throw a ball that’s even light on. How Many Pounds Of Beads Are Thrown At Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is a time for celebration, and that means lots and lots of beads! It’s estimated that over 25 million pounds of beads are thrown during Mardi Gras celebrations each year. That’s a whole lot of beads to catch! MoonPies, Mobile, and Mardi Gras “You know all about the beads, parades, masks and mayhem of Mardi Gras in New Orleans.But did you know that the country’s first Mardi Gras celebration was held not in the Crescent City, but 125 miles east, in Mobile, Alabama?” Mardi Gras is nothing like this. Huge crowds gather into mosh-pit-like packs, and there’s nowhere to sit. Massive floats make their ways down the street, one after another, with “throws” tossed into the crowd – anything from beads and moon pies (a Mardi Gras favorite) to stuffed animals and cups.
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