Ever wonder just what is Mardi Gras about? Mardi Gras, literally meaning “Fat Tuesday,” is a celebration that originated in France, but it has nowadays made its way to several countries across the globe, including the US. Although it is not a nationally observed holiday in the States, various cities, most notably New Orleans, have a long tradition of celebrating Mardi Gras.
Curious to know the most popular traditions associated with this celebration? We have compiled a list of the top 7 Mardi Gras traditions.
No. 7: The Krewes
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Krewe is the name given to the organizations that create the balls and floats that participate in the Mardi Gras parade. Basically, it is a type of secret society made up a few members and a captain. On the day of the parade, they wear masks and display their floats on the streets of New Orleans. Nowadays, there are few dozen Krewes in New Orleans, the most popular being Zulu and Rex. These are no match for these New World Order facts, though.
No. 6: Purple, Green, and Gold
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Each of the three colors prominently used in the festival has a hidden meaning. Purple signifies justice, green stands for faith, while gold for power. Initially, these three colors were the official brand of Rex, one of the original New Orleans Krewes.
Still asking yourself just what is Mardi Gras about? Continue reading to discover more:
No. 5: Beaded Necklaces
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By now, the vibrant colored beaded necklaces have pretty much become synonymous with the notion of Mardi Gras and have been around almost since the inception of the festival. Originally, the beads were made of glass, but somewhere in the mid 1900s, the Krewes started using plastic ones. Traditionally, the beads are thrown from the floats during the parade, along with a few other odds and ends, such as toys or cups.
No. 4: The Golden Nuggets
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Back when glass beads were still in use, the Zulu Krewe looked for a cheaper alternative and focused on throwing coconuts instead. Initially, the coconuts were thrown in their natural state, but nowadays they are hand painted in gold, black, or white, and drained. Zulu is no longer allowed to throw them and instead, they have to hand them down to the people in the crowds.
No. 3: The King Cake
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The King cakes are another long-standing tradition of Mardi Gras. Although nowadays there are various varieties of King cakes, the original cake was an over coffee cake, covered in purple, green, and gold sugar and icing.
No. 2: The Balls
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Apart from setting up the floats used in the parade, the Mardi Gras Krewes also hold glamorous balls during the festival season. The entrances to some of the balls are by private invite only, while some allow New Orleans citizens and tourists to buy tickets.
No. 1: Les Flambeaux
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The tradition of the Flambeaux started back in the 19th century, when the city did not have electric street lighting. The Flambeaux, originally slaves or people of color, used to carry lit torches in front of the floats during the night parades, while dancing or doing various tricks. Nowadays, some Krewes still employ the services of Flambeaux.
