Gallery
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 | |
 |  |
As you can tell from the pictures, Mardi Gras festivals get pretty ornate. We hope everyone in New Orleans had a blast and is sleeping in today — and counting up their beads. Latest In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the history and significance of Mardi Gras beads, including their cultural origins and what they symbolize. We’ll also explore the different types of beads you can expect to see at Mardi Gras and why they are such a sought-after prize for party-goers. 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 Why are beads thrown at Mardi Gras? 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. 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. During Mardi Gras celebrations, you’ll notice a variety of beads and throws being tossed around. These festive items play a significant role in the tradition and excitement of the event. Let’s look closer at the different types of beads and throws you might encounter during the celebration. Beads: Mardi Gras beads come in various materials 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 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. While seemingly simple, beads capture the collective effervescence that makes Mardi Gras magical. Their significance has evolved over generations and will continue being passed down for years to come. Conclusion. Mardi Gras beads are more than just plastic trinkets. Their colors hold symbolic meaning tied to the history and traditions of Carnival. Koerner writes that the first to toss beads was a man dressed as Santa Claus. The beads were an instant hit and were soon adopted by all krewes to throw in their parades. According to John Roach's article, "The Rich History of Mardi Gras's Cheap Trinkets," early glass beads were imported from Czechoslovakia or Japan. If you think women flashing their breasts during Mardi Gras is a relatively new phenomenon, then you are mistaken. The act — and I use the word "act" here because any longtime NOLA resident will Mardi Gras is bursting with vibrant traditions, and few are as iconic as attending parades, indulging in delicious and colorful king cakes and donning elaborate Mardi Gras masks. But have you ever As the parade progresses, you should wear all of the beads that you catch. You’ll look silly at the end of the night, but it will also be a mark of pride. The people with the most beads must’ve worked really hard to get all of them, right? The Family Rule. As we keep saying, Mardi Gras is a family event. Many people make a day of big Transportation Tips for Mardi Gras . If you’re visiting NOLA during Mardi Gras, getting around requires some planning since many streets are closed for parades. The best way to get around is by using public transportation, ride shares, or your good old feet. Pro Tip: Stay near the parade routes to save your energy for the festivities. Wear Shoes You’re Willing to Sacrifice Your cute shoes won’t survive the beer puddles, mystery liquids, and broken beads. Consider them a Mardi Gras offering. Costumes Are Encouraged (and Sometimes Required) If you’re not in a wig, sequins, or at least a feather boa, are you even doing Mardi Gras right? Whether you celebrate Mardi Gras for its connection to Christian traditions, its cultural significance, or simply for the fun and revelry, it remains an enduring and beloved festival. In places like New Orleans, Mardi Gras has become a symbol of the city’s identity, representing unity, diversity, and the joy of living life to the fullest. As Mardi Gras is seen as the last day to have fun and sin before this period of moderation starts. Even though usually the participants of Mardi Gras and lent probably don't overlap very much that's where the tradition comes from. The history and traditions of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Let’s take a look behind the mask. What’s the history of Mardi Gras in New Orleans? Louisiana was founded by explorer Pierre Le Moyne D’Iberville on Mardi Gras Day 1699 and the party hasn’t stopped yet. Read more Carnival history here. Why do the dates for Mardi Gras change every St. Louis’ Mardi Gras attendance peaked around 500,000 people in 1999, he said, and that was across all of the Mardi Gras events, which start with 12th Night on Jan. 6 and end on Fat Tuesday. 4. You shouldn’t pick up beads off the ground and wear them. Once beads “hit the ground, they're considered dead and bad luck,” Cullifer said. Mardi Gras masks in particular originated in ritual celebrations. New Orleans has been celebrating Mardi Gras for hundreds of years, and is the largest masked party in North America. In the beginning, masks worn during Mardi Gras allowed wearers to escape society and class constraints.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |