What Is Mardi Gras?
9. Throwing Beads
In American Mardi Gras celebrations, it is traditional for beads to be thrown to the watching crowds from the floats. These are strings of beads, the type which may be worn as necklaces or other jewelry. The beads used are typically gold, green, and purple, which are used to symbolize wealth, faith, and justice.
It is thought that the tradition was started in the 1880s when somebody dressed as Santa started throwing the beads to the crowds. The bead throwing caught on, and people continue to throw beads today. These beads are purchased in huge quantities and are usually imported from overseas.
