Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday,” is the last day of the Carnival season always falling the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced back to medieval Europe, then on to the French House of the Bourbons.
In 1703, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile (Mobile Alabama) celebrated America’s very first Mardi Gras. In 1704, Mobile established a secret society (Masque de la Mobile), similar to those that form today’s Mardi Gras krewes. By the 1730s, Mardi Gras was celebrated openly in New Orleans, but not with the parades known today but with elegant society balls, which became the model for the New Orleans Mardi Grand balls of present. The earliest reference to Mardi Gras “Carnival” appears in 1781, by the 1830’s New Orleans held street processions of maskers with carriages and horseback riders to celebrate Mardi Gras – in 1870 is the first recorded account of the Mardi Gras “throws”.
Mardi Gras beads are a “throw” krewe (club) members (the people on the floats) toss into the crowd. The origin of Mardi Gras beads and their meanings was determined by Rex, the King of the first daytime Carnival in 1872. Rex was really Russia’s Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff. Being of royalty, he determined that he would use the royal colors for this celebration: purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. All “throws” bring the recipients good luck for the coming year. The thought is that krewe members toss the color to the person who exhibits that color’s definition. “Throw” beads were originally made of glass. As you can imagine, these didn’t hold up well being tossed into the crowd- today they are made of plastic and also come in various colors and shapes with the New Orleans city symbol a popular motif, the Fleur De Lis.
