Mardi Gras throws

Tree covered with Mardi Gras beads

Mardi Gras throws are strings of beads, doubloons, cups, or other trinkets passed out or thrown from the floats for Mardi Gras celebrations, particularly in New Orleans, the Mobile, Alabama, and parades throughout the Gulf Coast of the United States, to spectators lining the streets. The "gaudy plastic jewelry, toys, and other mementos [are] tossed to the crowds from parading floats". The 'throws', consist of necklaces of plastic beads, coins called doubloons, which are stamped with krewes' logos, parade themes and the year, plus an array of plastic cups and toys such as Frisbees, figurines and LED trinkets.[1] The plastic cups that are used as throws are sometimes referred to as New Orleans dinnerware.[2]

Beads used on Mardi Gras (known as Shrove Tuesday in some regions) are purple, green, and gold, with these three colors containing the Christian symbolism of justice, faith, and power, respectively.[3][4] Traditionally, Mardi Gras beads were manufactured in Japan and Czech Republic, although many are now imported from mainland China.[5] As Fat Tuesday concludes the period of Carnival (Shrovetide), Mardi Gras beads are taken off oneself on the following day, Ash Wednesday, which begins the penitential season of Lent.[6] As such, one of the "solemn practices of Ash Wednesday is to pack all the beads acquired during the parade season into bags and boxes and take them to the attic".[6]

  1. ^ Patterson, Alice (2020-01-24). "Creating An Amazing Mardi Gras Event". Oddle Entertainment Agency. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  2. ^ "Mardi Gras New Orleans". MardiGrasNewOrleans.com. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  3. ^ Wilkie, Laurie A (16 June 2016). Strung Out on Archaeology: An Introduction to Archaeological Research. Routledge. p. 253. ISBN 9781315419527.
  4. ^ Murray, Julie (1 January 2014). Mardi Gras. ABDO Publishing Company. p. 16. ISBN 9781629680705.
  5. ^ Geary, Theresa Flores (2008). The Illustrated Bead Bible: Terms, Tips & Techniques. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 188. ISBN 9781402723537.
  6. ^ a b Higgins, Earl J. (2007). The Joy of Y'at Catholicism. Pelican Publishing. p. 122. ISBN 9781455606856.