Mardi gras throws
Encyclopedia
Mardi Gras throws are strings of beads, doubloons, cups, and other trinkets passed out or thrown from the floats in the New Orleans Mardi Gras
parade
s to spectators lining the streets. The "gaudy plastic jewelry, toys, and other mementos (are) tossed to the crowds from parading floats". Mardi Gras celebrations in other Gulf Coast cities, such as Mobile
and Lafyaette, have adopted the custom. "The goodies, or 'throws,' consist of necklaces of plastic beads, coins called doubloons, which are stamped with krewes
' logos, parade themes and the year, plus an array of plastic cups and toys such as Frisbees or figurines".
Spectators have traditionally shouted to the krewe members, "Throw me something, mister!", a phrase that is iconic in New Orleans' Mardi Gras street argot. Just as iconic is a request for women to expose their breasts as an incentive to receive the best throws.
Some krewes have specialty throws, for example the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club
hand painted coconut or the Krewe of Muses
shoes and mirrors.
New Orleans Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a Carnival celebration well-known throughout the world.The New Orleans Carnival season, with roots in preparing for the start of the Christian season of Lent, starts after Twelfth Night, on Epiphany . It is a season of parades, balls , and king cake parties...
parade
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
s to spectators lining the streets. The "gaudy plastic jewelry, toys, and other mementos (are) tossed to the crowds from parading floats". Mardi Gras celebrations in other Gulf Coast cities, such as Mobile
Mardi Gras in Mobile
Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama[pronounce] is the oldest annual Carnival celebration in America, having begun in 1703,over 15 years before New Orleans was founded ....
and Lafyaette, have adopted the custom. "The goodies, or 'throws,' consist of necklaces of plastic beads, coins called doubloons, which are stamped with krewes
Krewe
A krewe is an organization that puts on a parade and or a ball for the Carnival season. The term is best known for its association with New Orleans Mardi Gras, but is also used in other Carnival celebrations around the Gulf of Mexico, such as the Gasparilla Pirate Festival in Tampa, Florida, and...
' logos, parade themes and the year, plus an array of plastic cups and toys such as Frisbees or figurines".
Spectators have traditionally shouted to the krewe members, "Throw me something, mister!", a phrase that is iconic in New Orleans' Mardi Gras street argot. Just as iconic is a request for women to expose their breasts as an incentive to receive the best throws.
Some krewes have specialty throws, for example the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club
Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club
The Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club is a Carnival Krewe in New Orleans, Louisiana which puts on the Zulu parade each Mardi Gras Day. Zulu is New Orleans' largest predominantly African American carnival organization known for its blackfaced krewe members wearing grass skirts and its unique throw...
hand painted coconut or the Krewe of Muses
Krewe of Muses
The Krewe of Muses is an all-female krewe or New Orleans Mardi Gras social organization--one of the few clubs with that distinction . The Muses first paraded during Mardi Gras in 2000. Since then, their krewe has grown to include nearly 1500 members...
shoes and mirrors.