I’ve never been to Mardi Gras before, but since my daughter is at Tulane the girls and I decided it was time to finally experience this world famous event. Honestly, I used to be kind of afraid of of Mardi Gras due to all of the views & stories from Bourbon Street, but during my recent visits, I’ve learned there’s a cleaner/saner side of Mardi Gras… it was still wild and crazy, believe me, but in the festive spirit of the locals more than tourists on a rampage.
Most of the parades are not actually in the French Quarter, because the streets are too narrow to accommodate the elaborate floats. We watched parades on the uptown routes where themed beads, cups, tee shirts, stuffed animals and umbrellas were flying freely and not a shirt was lifted. We celebrated with children, grandparents, locals and tourists and learned loads about the history, traditions and other complexities that surround this all~out annual fête.
Talking to the locals we learned all about the different Krewes or organizations and their traditions. We were there for the 3 Super Krewe celebrations, Bacchus, Orpheus and Endymion. Their parade nights coincide with their formal debutante balls, a tradition imported from France.
As the elaborately decorated floats roll down the streets the {mostly} men on board throw a variety of beads, plastic cups, tee shirts, stuffed animals, umbrellas and other things that are branded with the name of the Krewe and fit with their theme for the year.
Turns out the people on board actually pay to ride the float, somewhere in the neighborhood of $1000. People we met who have done this said it is one of their greatest experiences in life; to roll around the streets of New Orleans among throngs of people screaming for them to “throw me something”.
Each krewe throws their own mix of beads, many marked with their krewe name.
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| Toth Krewe beads, Mardi Gras 2016 |
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| Toth Krewe Beads, Mardi Gras 2016 |
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| Zulu Krewe Beads, Mardi Gras 2016 |
Orpheus is a newer krewe and one of the few that have women riders. Local favorite Harry Connick Jr. was one of the founders and Sandra Bullock {who has a home in New Orleans} and other celebrities are also among the riders.
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| Beads from Orpheus Parade, Mardi Gras, 2015 |
Beads can be found around town throughout the year, some that just landed there and some that residents use to decorate fences, doorways…
mailboxes
and even grave sites.
Many hanging in the trees and power lines fade over the year,
only to be covered up by a fresh layer of beads the next year.
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| Mardi Gras Tree at Tulane University |
Others find a second chance to fly through the air. There are drop sights at different businesses and organizations over the city after the last float rolls. The collected beads and baubles are cleaned and sorted and sold to the Krewes the next year with the proceeds benefiting local charities.
It’s considered to be bad luck to pick beads up off the ground.
The clean up crews in the uptown routes do an amazing job sweeping in right after the parades and cleaning up all of the leftover beads, plastic wrappers and other debris that gets left behind by revelers.
It’s said that many of the top floors of old NOLA homes are sagging due to the weight of beads that have been collected over the years. We were selective in our color themes, trading colors to get the perfect blend.
What a surprise I went for an aquamarine blend…
while my bff created a temple to the Broncos.
It was a great getaway filled with free spirited fun, amazing food, music and a thick dollop of culture. The more I visit New Orleans and learn about this city, the more I find it is more unique country than one of the United States. I can’t wait to share more of the highlights with you.
Of course the day after was the beginning of Lent, did you give anything up?
I’m giving up dessert, hoping that will make up for some of my culinary indulgence over the past week.
LOVED reading about your Mardi Gras experience. We were there from Feb. 5th-8th with two other couples and had an amazing time. Everything you posted was spot on. I had never been and I feel in love with the people, the culture, the color and the beignets! I wish I would have known before we left that you were there as well. It would have been fun to meet up with you and Franny. I think you mentioned Sharon was with you as well? So fun!