Mardi Gras Though It Is Essay

2009).

One of the most well-known aspects of the modern Mardi Gras celebration is the throwing of beads and other trinkets from the parade krewes (groups and organizations that have floats in the parade) to the crowd of spectators. This was started in 1870 by the Twelfth Night krewe, and was quickly taken up by other groups, each of whom throws their own unique trinkets (Mardi Gras New Orleans 2009). Contrary to popular belief (and wishful thinking) however, the baring of breasts by women to get beads is not actually a part of the Mardi Gras tradition, but is simply the result of a lot of drunken college students losing their inhibitions and doing whatever they can to draw attention to themselves (Mardi Gras New Orleans 2009).Something that definitely is a part of the Mardi Gras tradition is the King Cakes. This pastry has a complex origins, again beginning with the Twelfth Night Revelers, who crowned a Lord of Misrule who is presented with a large fake cake (Mardi Gras Unmasked 1998). Single women are then invited by name to dance with members of the krewe, and some of them are presented with pieces of cake while others receives beans; the woman who gets the golden bean is crowned Queen (Mardi Gras Unmasked 1998). This tradition dates back many centuries in one form or another; many cultures still have traditions on Easter or Christmas where a coin or other trinket is baked into a cake or old-style.....