Mardi Gras throws

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Tree covered with Mardi Gras beads Raining Beads.jpg
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]

Contents

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]

Origin

The tradition of throwing Mardi Gras throws to spectators during the parade started with the second procession of the Twelfth Night Revelers in the early 1870s, with an individual dressed as Santa Claus passing out gifts to spectators as he passed by. The tradition was then expanded and continued by the Krewe of Rex who began to throw glass beads to spectators in the early 20th century. [7]

Spectators have traditionally shouted to the krewe members, "Throw me something, mister!", a phrase that is iconic in New Orleans' Mardi Gras street argot. Some women expose their breasts to invite throws in the French Quarter, although this is not required or even classed as a true Mardi Gras tradition, it is however quite common during French Quarter parades. [8] [9]

Some krewes have specialty throws: for example, the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club hand-painted coconut [10] or the Krewe of Muses hand-decorated glitter shoes.

Flashing for beads

The notion females could flash to receive beads or other throws is relatively recent. As one of the more recent Mardi Gras traditions, it took hold in the 1970s, with one source pegging it to Fat Tuesday 1976, when some women realized they could exchange glimpses of bare flesh for trinkets from their Royal Street balcony. Already in the early 1980s the practice of women (and men) to flash their boobs, butts, and occasionally genitals for throws on Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras was established. Sociology professor Dr. Wesley Shrum calls flashing for beads "ritual disrobement" and considers it a symbol of the free market. Sociology professor Dr. Craig J. Forsyth suggests the practice originated in the gay community. [11] [12] [13] The official Mardi Gras website makes clear flashing is not a requirement for getting throws, and cautions against any indecent exposure, inappropriate or even illegal public nudity. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mardi Gras</span> Holiday on the day before Ash Wednesday

Mardi Gras is the final day of Carnival ; it thus falls on the day before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", reflecting the practice of the last night of consuming rich, fatty foods in preparation for the Christian fasting season of Lent, during which the consumption of such foods is avoided.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krewe</span> Group of dancers in a carnival parade

A krewe is a social organization that stages parades and/or balls for the Carnival season. The term is best known for its association with Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, but is also used in other Carnival celebrations throughout Louisiana and along the Gulf of Mexico, such as the Gasparilla Pirate Festival in Tampa, Florida, Springtime Tallahassee, and Krewe of Amalee in DeLand, Florida with the Mardi Gras on Mainstreet Parade as well as in La Crosse, Wisconsin and at the Saint Paul Winter Carnival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mardi Gras in New Orleans</span> Annual carnival celebration in New Orleans, Louisiana

The holiday of Mardi Gras is celebrated in southern Louisiana, including the city of New Orleans. Celebrations are concentrated for about two weeks before and through Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, the season is known as Carnival and begins on 12th Night, January 6th, and extends until midnight before Ash Wednesday. Club, or Krewe, balls start soon after, though most are extremely private, with their Kings and Queens coming from wealthy old families and their courts consisting of the season's debutantes. Most of the high society Krewes do not stage parades. As Fat Tuesday gets nearer, the parades start in earnest. Usually there is one major parade each day ; many days have several large parades. The largest and most elaborate parades take place the last five days of the Mardi Gras season. In the final week, many events occur throughout New Orleans and surrounding communities, including parades and balls.

The Krewe of Endymion is a New Orleans Mardi Gras super krewe and social organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krewe of Orpheus</span>

The Krewe of Orpheus is a New Orleans Mardi Gras super krewe and social organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Half-Fast Walking Club</span> US musical group

The Half-Fast Walking Club is a New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe founded and historically led by Pete Fountain, until his death on August 6, 2016. Originally all on foot, in recent decades it has also featured one or two small floats. Fountain and other local jazz musicians played through much of the parade. The krewe's current route, basically unchanged since the mid-1970s, starts at 7 AM on Mardi Gras morning, at world-famous Commander's Palace Restaurant on Washington Avenue in the Garden District. The krewe then proceeds downtown on St. Charles Avenue and after a brief interlude on Canal Street, enters the French Quarter at Bourbon Street, winds around the Quarter and eventually ends up at the Monteleone Hotel in the early afternoon.

Krewe of Tucks is a New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club</span> Fraternal organization in New Orleans

The Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club is a fraternal organization in New Orleans, Louisiana which puts on the Zulu parade each year on Mardi Gras Day. Zulu is New Orleans' largest predominantly African American carnival organization known for its krewe members wearing grass skirts and its unique throw of hand-painted coconuts. The club is a regular feature of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

KOE, formally known as the Krewe of Elvis, is a Mardi Gras parading organization that consists of members from around the world who meet in New Orleans for Mardi Gras.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krewe of Bacchus</span> Group in the New Orleans Mardi Gras

Krewe of Bacchus is a New Orleans Mardi Gras super krewe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama</span> Annual carnival celebration in Mobile, Alabama

Mardi Gras is the annual Carnival celebration in Mobile, Alabama. It is the oldest official Carnival celebration in the United States, started by Frenchman Nicholas Langlois in 1703 when Mobile was the capital of Louisiana. Although today New Orleans and South Louisiana celebrations are much more widely known for all the current traditions such as masked balls, parades, floats and throws were first created there. From Mobile being the first capital of French Louisiana (1702), the festival began as a French Catholic tradition. Mardi Gras has now evolved into a mainstream multi-week celebration across the spectrum of cultures, becoming school holidays for the final Monday and Tuesday, regardless of religious affiliation.

The Krewe of Muses is an all-female super krewe and social organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mystic society</span> Mardi Gras social organization in Mobile, Alabama

A mystic society is a Mardi Gras social organization in Mobile, Alabama, that presents parades and/or balls for the enjoyment of its members, guests, and the public. The New Orleans Krewe is patterned after Mobile's Mystics. The societies have been based in class, economic and racial groups. Mobile's parading mystic societies build colorful Carnival floats and create costumes around each year's themes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mardi Gras in the United States</span> Celebration

Mardi Gras in the United States is celebrated in a number of cities and regions in the country. Most of these places trace their Mardi Gras celebrations to French, Spanish, and other Catholic colonial influences on the settlements over their history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus</span>

The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is a science fiction–themed Mardi Gras krewe, religious and parade organization, that also features fantasy and horror groups, among other fandoms. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, as of the 2019 parade, the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus has over 2500 dues-paying members who call themselves "ChewbacchanALIENs" or "Chewbs."

Krewe of Carrollton is a New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mardi Gras Doubloons</span> Coin-like Mardi Gras throws commemorating Mardi Gras Krewes

Mardi Gras Doubloons are Mardi Gras throws shaped like coins that commemorate various Mardi Gras Krewes. They are typically made of aluminum and are thrown from floats in carnival parades. The first doubloons used as throws from parades of Mardi Gras Krewes date to 1960, and these early doubloons are collectible.

Krewe of Okeanos is a New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe.

Knights of Babylon is a New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe that was founded in 1939.

Krewe of Mid-City is the 5th oldest continually-parading New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe.

References

  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. 1 2 Higgins, Earl J. (2007). The Joy of Y'at Catholicism. Pelican Publishing. p. 122. ISBN   9781455606856.
  7. ↑ "Throw me somethin' mister! The history behind New Orleans Mardi Gras throws | The Historic New Orleans Collection". www.hnoc.org. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  8. ↑ Shrum, W. and J. Kilburn. Ritual Disrobement at Mardi Gras: Ceremonial Exchange and Moral Order. Social Forces, Vol. 75, No. 2. (December 1996), pp. 423–458.
  9. ↑ Mardi Gras History and Traditions Archived 2010-02-08 at the Wayback Machine mardigrasneworleans.com
  10. ↑ New Orleans Mardi Gras. "Zulu Mardi Gras Coconut"
  11. ↑ "The original Mardi Gras flasher returns to New Orleans balcony where it all started in 1976". 13 February 2024.
  12. ↑ "The History of Flashing Boobs for Beads at Mardi Gras".
  13. ↑ "Ritual Disrobement: The sociology behind the Mardi Gras tradition". 19 February 2022.
  14. ↑ "Flashing for Mardi Gras Beads | Mardi Gras New Orleans".
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