Bead Throwing & Celebration

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From Google search ‘Fat Tuesday’ –

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Image Provided by: insaneeliquid.net

Mardi Gras (/ˈmɑːrdiɡrɑː/), also called Shrove Tuesday, or Fat Tuesday, in English, refers to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday.

Up until August of last year, I lived in Dallas, Texas for 27 years.  I do not recall having Mardi Gras parades or related events.  I currently am living in Pensacola, Florida located in the pan handle of Florida and about an hour drive from Mobile, Alabama.

From Google search ‘Where did Mardi Gras originate’ –

Despite the holiday’s rich history in New Orleans, Louisiana, Mayor Sam Jones of Mobile, Alabama, says the first Mardi Gras celebration in this country actually took place in his city, and most Mobile natives agree.

I had no idea the significance of Mardi Gras in this region.  It seems for the whole month of February, every Thursday, Friday & Saturday and other days; there has been a Mardi Gras parade in Mobile.  Then there are parades in the surrounding smaller towns as well as Pensacola.

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From Google search ‘How long is the Mardi Gras celebration?’ –

The holiday of Mardi Gras is celebrated in Southern Louisiana, although celebrations are concentrated for about two weeks before and through Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Usually there is one major parade each day (weather permitting); many days have several large parades.

I found a schedule for the parades for Mobil and the surrounding area and counted 48 of them total.  I never knew the importance of Mardi Gras in the south until now.

From Google search ‘What is the meaning of the beads at Mardi Gras?’ –

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Image Provided by: http://www.partycity.ca

Bead throwing and Mardi Gras go hand-in-hand. The Throwing Of Beads. The tradition of bead throwing starts with their original colors. The color of the beads was determined by the king of the first daytime Carnival in 1872. He wanted the colors to be royal colors – purple for justice, gold for power and green for faith.

I missed all the parades and the beads this year because of my recovery from surgery.  I just do not have the stamina to stand for long periods of time in crowds of people.

From Google search ‘Why do we celebrate Mardi Gras?’ –

Related popular practices are associated with Shrovetide celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent. In countries such as England, Mardi Gras is also known as Shrove Tuesday, which is derived from the word shrive, meaning “confess”.

I never celebrated Mardi Gras in the past and again this year did not celebrate.

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Image Provided by: thebayouinsider.com

But I have certainly learned the significance and importance of it in this area where I am temporally residing.

I do not know where I will be next year at this time.

I do not know if I will celebrate Mardi Gras next year.

What about you?

Do you celebrate Mardi Gras?

46 thoughts on “Bead Throwing & Celebration”

  1. That was absolutely fascinating! In Britain although it is officially Shrove Tuesday most people call it Pancake Day and set about buying or making pancakes (which are not the little fluffy chubbers you have in the States but more like a version of French Crepes) …. here in France it is, of course, called Mardi Gras because it is French … but the pancakes have been eaten earlier in February for le Chandeleur (Candlemas) which falls 40 days after Christmas on 02 Feb. So today is all about les Bugnes which are gorgeous little misshapen doughnut type creations which you buy by weight and which are available all over France and year round but are originally from Lyon which is an hour from here and the capitol of our Region and are really meant to be saved for today. Guess who just bought a bag? And guess whose dog thinks (erroneously) they are for her! Bonne Fête de Mardi Gras a toi and may next year see you in a crowd enjoying the carnival 🎡 😊

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  2. Do I celebrate a holiday that encourages me to drink and for people to throw free things at me? You bet I do!

    Then again, as I just got back from New Orleans and celebrating Mardi Gras (I don’t even know how many times I’ve been there for Mardi Gras at this point, I’ve done it so much), I think you probably already knew that. 🙂

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  3. My hubby arrived in Portugal today for business, and today is their Carnival Day which is like the Mardi Gras. Apparently he was told that it is the biggest Carnival of the year for them. So he will be experiencing a bit of it for the first time in his life.
    Sadly we don’t celebrate it here.
    I must say, reading your post, it does sound interesting and really festive. Who knows, next year you may get to enjoy it. 🙂 And, if not the Mardi Gras, there will be something else of interest. Have a good day my friend. 🙂

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    • I new Mardi Gras was big in New Orleans, but not here – it surprised me how big of a deal it is in this area. If I am in this area next year, I hope to take in some of the parades – looks like fun. Thanks Lynne, enjoy your day! 🙂

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  6. All I know is that it is a party, therefore your post was interesting. I dug out my snow shovels this morning again and shoveled the driveway. I keep hoping snow is over with and it keeps surprising me. Only minus 5 this morning so definitely improved and the sunshine on the snow looks gorgeous. Snowboarding Thursday for my son should be heavenly. I am thinking though I would rather be watching the sunset at Lido beach Florida.

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    • I don’t envy you David, I am not a cold weather person, but the shoveling is good exercise. It will be around 80 degrees here today with some sun – hang in there, Spring is around the corner. 🙂

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  9. Interesting information on Mardi Gras. I’ve not really celebrated it except for the Mardi Gras potlucks we would have complete with a King Cake. One of my colleagues was from New Orleans and she schooled us on a few of the finer points of Mardi Gras.

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  11. I’ve never really celebrated Mardi Gras except to attend a Mardi Gras party here and again over the years. I did go to New Orleans during Mardi Gras when I was 11 years old, and kept the beads from the parades well into my adult-hood. But my family did practice Lent, but no Mardi Gras events so to speak except that one family vacation.

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    • I was amazed at the involvement that Mobil takes place with Mardi Gras. They had 4 parades just yesterday and the weather was great for it. The few tall buildings they have downtown also were lit in green, gold and purple lights. Maybe next year I will have the opportunity to watch a few parades. Thanks kat, learning something new is good for all of us. Happy Wednesday. 🙂

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  17. This is WAY different than what I heard… lol. I went to a Mardi Gras Parade (in Pensacola, a billion years ago) and was shocked no one would throw me beads… it seems I was required to lift my shirt to get beads?

    Made it even funnier a few years later when my Mexican-American friend’s grandmother went to mardi gras EVERY year… and came back with TONS of beads.

    LMAO.

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    • I did not attend the Pensacola parade, so unsure if the beads are thrown or not, I assume they are. Maybe next year I will attend if I am still in this location. Thanks for stopping by today. 🙂

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