Mardi Gras Colors: Purple, Green and Gold:

The three colors first appeared in 1872 on a Krewe of Rex carnival flag especially designed for the visit of the Grand Duke of Russia. The colors quickly became universal. Rex assigned them a purpose: Purple represents Justice, Green stands for Faith, and Gold signifies Power.

 

Krewes:

A generic term for a Mardi Gras Carnival Organization made up of a king, a queen, maids and dukes. Pronounced "crew". Maids are usually college co-eds and dukes usually men in the business community. The Mystic Krew of Comus was the first official krewe to conduct a parade in New Orleans in 1851.

 

Beads:

Pretty glass and ceramic beads were first used in the 1920's, but by the 1960's plastic beads surfaced. Necklaces of beads have become very heavy and ornate, and nowadays, people don't like the cheap, little beads that used to be coveted.

 

Doubloon:

Large, round aluminum coins that are used as throws. They are the creation of engraver H. Alvin Sharpe, who introduced them in 1960 to the Krewe of Rex. On one side of the coin is the krewe name and insignia; on the other the theme of that year's parade. Common ones are silver (aluminum-colored), but the most desired are minted in the Mardi Gras colors. Krewes have even thrown black doubloons.

 

King Cake Baby:

A tiny plastic baby hidden inside a King Cake. Usually flesh-colored; sometimes black (brown), and sometimes gold. It represents the Christ Child, and the person finding it in their piece of cake is said to have a year of good luck. The bad luck is that they have to buy the next King Cake.

 

Walking Club:

A group of people who walk in costume; either men or women. They form a club to have fun and add spontaneity and merriment to parades. They walk in a group, dance to music, and hand out beads and trinkets. One group on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, The Old Biloxi Marching Club, hands out flowers for kisses from pretty ladies. (Aside: most of the men get totally soused before the parade begins, but they have a blast!) They wear tuxedos and top hats. Ladies fight over the flowers and gladly bestow the required kiss.

 

Parade:

 

A procession of floats decorated on flat-bed trucks, bands and walking clubs. While there is no particular theme for the entire Mardi Gras season, individual parades generally depict a subject. A coastal city may have several parade organizations and several parades during the season. Floats and the riders, usually wearing masks, dress according to the theme, which may be based on history, legends, children's stories, entertainment or famous people.

 

 

Balls, or Tableaus (pronounced tab-lows):

Each carnival krewe holds a masked ball in which their royalty is presented to club members and guests. The identity of Royalty is not known until they "walk out" and are presented. Each year a theme is followed, with costumes, entertainment, dancing and hearty partying. Some krewes are very formal, others are just for fun. The king and queen wear elaborate headpieces and long, flowing trains over especially-designed costumes. Trains usually have pictures depicting the theme of the ball. MC's announce the story of the theme as first the court (maids and dukes) are presented, and then the king and queen.

 

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