Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”), also called Carnival, is a Christian-affiliated holiday that is primarily observed on the last Tuesday before Lent. There are many popular regional Mardi Gras celebrations in Venice, Rio de Janiero, and New Orleans that span from Epiphany (the 12th day after Christmas) to Ash Wednesday (the start of the Easter Season).
The holiday was brought to North America as a French Catholic tradition by the Le Moyne brothers in the late 17th Century, when King Louis XIV sent the pair to defend France’s claim on the territory of Louisiane (parts of what is now Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama). On March 3, 1699, the brothers held a small celebration and dubbed their landing spot “Point du Mardi Gras”, just outside of modern-day New Orleans.1
Traditionally, revelers enjoy all the rich, fatty foods (meat, eggs, milk, and cheese) in their homes in preparation of 40 days of prayer and fasting.
Did you know? The word carnival also derives from the feasting tradition: in Medieval Latin, carnelevarium means to take away or remove meat (from the Latin carnem for meat).2
When the Spanish took control of the area in 1762, they banned Mardi Gras celebrations. The bans lasted until 1812, nine years after Louisiana became a state.2
In 1827, a group of students donned colorful costumes and danced through the streets of New Orleans, emulating the revelry they’d observed while visiting Paris. This lead to the first recorded New Orleans Mardi Gras parade ten years later, and the establishment of “krewes” (social clubs that help organize the parades) in 1857.2
Did you know? Rex, one of the oldest Mardi Gras krewes, established purple, gold, and green as the iconic Mardi Gras colors.2
In 1872, the Krewe of Rex chose the bead colors purple, green, and gold as a tribute to the visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff (rex is Latin for “king”). Purple stood for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. The original idea was to toss the beads to those in the crowd who exhibited these traits and the people who caught them were said to receive good luck for the coming year.3 Carnival’s improbable anthem, “If Ever I Cease to Love,” was also chosen, in part, due to the Duke’s fondness for the tune.1 (Each year a different “King of Carnival” is chosen, though the colors and anthem remain largely the same.)
By contrast, Zulu, the oldest traditionally African American krewe, began gifting coconuts to members of the crowd in 1910. Originally, the coconuts were left in their natural state, but they soon began painting and decorating them with glitter.4 The Zulu Coconuts are one of the most cherished Mardi Gras prizes.
Did you know? The mission of the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is to save the galaxy by giving the disenfranchised, socially awkward, and generally weird masses access to the magical revelry of Carnival.
Krewe of Chewbacchus
In addition to throwing beads and other goodies, there are many Mardi Gras traditions including: wearing masks, decorating floats, masquerade balls, and eating King Cake.
“Flashing for beads”, however, is not an established tradition. This mostly occurs in the Bourbon Street area of the French Quarter, an area known for its strip joints. In fact, most parades do not weave through the French Quarter due to size restrictions, and the majority of Mardi Gras celebrations are family-friendly!5
[1] https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/history/
[2] https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mardi-gras
[3] https://www.history.com/news/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-mardi-gras
[4] https://www.history.com/news/from-king-cake-to-zulu-coconuts-the-history-of-6-mardi-gras-traditions
[5] https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/history/traditions/flashing