• Home
  • Holidays
  • 5 Weird Yet Amazing Rituals Of Mardi Gras You Should Know

5 Weird Yet Amazing Rituals Of Mardi Gras You Should Know

By: Pinki Fri, 06 Mar 2020 1:48:18

5 Weird Yet Amazing Rituals of Mardi Gras You Should Know

Of all the American cities to throw one last celebration before Lent, New Orleans is the best known, thanks to its full-throated carnival on “Fat Tuesday,” or Mardi Gras. Lets take a look at the traditions and quirks of this famous festival to give you a better understanding of just how integral it is to Louisiana culture.

Although the city’s celebrations are now most associated with debauchery and days-long drinking sessions, Mardi Gras in New Orleans is one of the most storied and colourful carnivals in the United States – and, indeed, the world. From its distinctive color scheme to the cakes handed out with abandon and the beads you’ll find strewn across Bourbon Street, here is a list of Mardi Gras traditions to enhance your understanding of this party like no other.

mardi gras,mardi gras traditions,mardi gras party,krewes mardi gras,colors mardi gras,beads and doubloons mardi gras,signature mardi gras,king cakes mardi gras,travel,tourism,holidays

Krewes

Mardi Gras krewes are social organizations that host balls or put on parades each carnival season. Some krewes have open membership, while others are highly exclusive or secretive. They can be organized by neighborhood, interest or involvement in the community. Historically, krewes were all male, but the first all-female krewes began to appear in the early 1900s. The two best-known krewes that parade on Mardi Gras are the Krewe of Rex and the Krewe of Zulu.

mardi gras,mardi gras traditions,mardi gras party,krewes mardi gras,colors mardi gras,beads and doubloons mardi gras,signature mardi gras,king cakes mardi gras,travel,tourism,holidays

Colors

The official colors of New Orleans Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. The Krewe of Rex chose these colors in 1872 in part to honor the Russian Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich Romanov, who visited New Orleans during that year’s carnival season. The krewe asked the people of New Orleans to display the colors, which represent justice (purple), faith (green) and power (gold), on Mardi Gras.

mardi gras,mardi gras traditions,mardi gras party,krewes mardi gras,colors mardi gras,beads and doubloons mardi gras,signature mardi gras,king cakes mardi gras,travel,tourism,holidays

Beads and doubloons

Beads have been thrown from floats since the very first parades rolled down the streets of New Orleans. These first beads were made of glass, but krewes began throwing plastic beads in the mid-20th century. Doubloons were first thrown by the Krewe of Rex in 1960. These coins featured the krewe’s founding date, emblem and name on one side, and the current year and theme of the parade on the other side. The doubloons were so popular that each krewe created its own. In addition to beads and doubloons, float riders today throw a variety of trinkets, including plastic cups and stuffed animals.

mardi gras,mardi gras traditions,mardi gras party,krewes mardi gras,colors mardi gras,beads and doubloons mardi gras,signature mardi gras,king cakes mardi gras,travel,tourism,holidays

Signature ‘throws’

The Zulu coconut or ‘golden nugget’ may be the most coveted of all Mardi Gras throws. Typically, the meat is removed from the coconuts and they are hand-painted by float riders before being tossed into the crowds below. Coconuts have been slightly controversial through the years. They were banned in 1988 due to insurance issues, but were later allowed again to continue the tradition. Other krewes have signature throws, which are often hand-decorated by members. The Krewe of Muses, for example, throws highly sought-after hand-decorated shoes from their float.

mardi gras,mardi gras traditions,mardi gras party,krewes mardi gras,colors mardi gras,beads and doubloons mardi gras,signature mardi gras,king cakes mardi gras,travel,tourism,holidays

King cakes

The concept of a king cake comes from the French galette des rois. Today, New Orleans’ king cakes look nothing like their French counterparts. Traditional New Orleans king cakes are decorated with purple, green and gold sugar icing. They may be plain or filled with fruit, pecans or cream cheese. A plastic baby is placed inside the cake, and tradition dictates that whoever is given the piece with the baby inside must buy the next cake or throw the next party. Over 500,000 king cakes are sold in New Orleans each year, and at least 50,000 are shipped out of state.

About Us | Contact | Disclaimer| Privacy Policy

| | |

Copyright © 2024 lifeberrys.com