| The final day of the carnival, Mardi Gras, is also known as "Shrove Tuesday" or "Pancake Day". The French term for “Fat Tuesday” is followed by Ash Wednesday in celebration of the beginning of the Christian Lent season. The carnival parade is based on popular themes based on mythology, history, or Hollywood. The parade features people impersonating Kings and Queens, Dukes and Duchesses of historic origin, and celebrities too.
The Mardi Gras festival focuses on enjoying the moment and extending the fun factor to fellow participants. The popular “Bead Game” involves exchanging designer beads and beaded necklaces with random participants in return for a “certain’ fun factor. In case of females it usually translates to flashing; including guys at times. Importantly, flashing is per se illegal, kisses and hugs are exchanged liberally. The beads or bead necklaces are commonly interchanged with doubloons, small toys, and candy distributed by the floats. The items are termed as “throws”. The number of floats in a particular carnival can range anywhere from 10 up to 40. Each float has its own members with marching bands, dance troupes, impersonating characters, etc.
The Mardi Gras beads are not limited to the carnival but also make appearances in prominent theme parties, corporate events, prior to football matches, wedding receptions and other festivals or parades. They are fast being adopted as promotional goodies by numerous companies and organizations, bearing company trademarks, brand logos, etc., fast replacing traditional gift items. Well-known companies like Coca-Cola, Disney, Universal Studios, Carnival Cruise Lines, Harrah's, Federal Express and Playboy Enterprises and Mardi Gras organizations such as Krewe of Endymion and the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club heavily use beads for promotional and recreational purposes. The beads are commonly available in gift shops, party supply shops and most online stores. |
