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10 Things You Might Not Know About Mardi Gras

by Sara Hudson

hat is Mardi Gras? Do you know the meaning we love the Krewe of Highland, who throw Spam and hot
of krewe? Or where to get one-of-a-kind beads? dogs. Anyone can come home with beads. Only those in the
WHere you will find 10 things to know about Mardi know get miniature squirting toilets and dinner.
Gras to make your Carnival the best! 5. The Best Parades Aren’t Necessarily the Biggest:

Mardi Gras. Two little words with an infinitely large You can’t get any smaller than ’tit Rex, known as “New
explanation. For different people it’s different things—an Orleans’ first and only MicroKrewe.” This krewe, founded
event, an idea, a day, a way of life, piece of history, state in 2009, features miniature floats made from shoeboxes and
holiday, or a million parades and countless memories. Think found objects. Carnival throws are handed out by krewe
you know Mardi Gras? That it’s all about booze and beads? members rather than tossed, since — in keeping with the
Think again! theme of the parade — they are so tiny.
10. Carnival is a season; Mardi Gras 4. Why We Throw Beads at
is a day. Sure, we all do it. “Yea, Mardi Gras? Legend has it in
I’m going to New Orleans for Mardi the 1880s, a man dressed like
Gras!” we say, when we’re actually Santa Claus received such
going to see parades the weekend fame throwing beads, that other
before Mardi Gras, or the weekend krewes followed suit. Makes
before that. Technically, “Mardi sense, seeing before that,
Gras” is the last Tuesday before Ash krewes threw any manner of
Wednesday and ushers in 40 days items, including food and dirt.
of best behavior during Lent, and Today krewes buy plastic beads
“Carnival” is the season that begins en masse which parade-goers
on the Feast of Epiphany. A krewe prefer over dirt! Locals still
(pronounced the same way as "crew") love to see throws of tiny glass
is an organization that puts on a bead strands, which are rare and
parade and/or a ball for the Carnival seemed to have phased out in
season. the 1960s and 1970s.
9. Your dog will love Mardi Gras. 3. The Weight of Revelry. Think
Dogs just want to have fun! And your suitcase is heavy? Officials
that’s what they get at their very estimate upwards of 25 million
own parades in New Orleans, Baton pounds of Mardi Gras items get
Rouge, the Louisiana Northshore and more! tossed from floats—more than half of which winds up on
8. Mardi Gras is for families. Got kids? Watch parades New Orleans streets. In fact, locals like to visit ARC of New
with local families in New Orleans’ favorite family parade- Orleans and recycle their beads for next year.
watching spots, which include St. Charles and Napoleon 2. Mardi Gras Is a Legal Holiday. It really is! Despite the
Streets, where turning parades take a bit longer, leaving preponderance of what might “seem” like illegal activity,
extra time to get more goodies. Also try St. Charles at 3rd or Mardi Gras is a legal holiday in Louisiana, and has been
4th Street, which is conveniently close to Garden District so since 1875, when Governor Warmoth signed the “Mardi
it would be a short venture for the kiddos. Get the full guide Gras Act.”
of family-friendly Mardi Gras activities.
7. The Best Ways to Get Parade Goods Aren’t Always 1. Mardi Gras is More Than New Orleans. When you hear
“Mardi Gras” do you think New Orleans? Think again.
Obvious. Sure, you could say, “Throw me something, Get your Mardi Gras groove on at the Cajun Mardi Gras in
mister!” or you could stick your cute kid on your shoulders, Lafayette or go dance at a Baton Rouge Mardi Gras ball.
but if you really want to test your suitcases’ weight limit, Next, head to family-friendly Mardi Gras in Alexandria or
head to the end of the parade. You’ll be showered by over to Lake Charles for their Mardi Gras celebrations. All
effervescent float-riders with a single goal: chuck all bags year-round check out the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial
of beads off before they get off the float themselves. Calcasieu in Lake Charles or Mardi Gras World in New
6. You Never Know What They’ll Throw. Bathroom humor Orleans to see real floats, costumes and everything Mardi
never grows old, as evidenced by the irreverent joy of Krewe Gras. Mardi Gras is also celebrated all over the world
of Tucks riders in their giant toilet bowl float! The screaming including many locations in Europe and massive celebrations
crowds line the street begging for their bathroom-themed are found in Brazil every year!•
throws, including monogrammed toilet paper, sunglasses
shaped like toilets, mini-plungers, and more. In Shreveport,

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