Every year, as winter fades and spring approaches, the streets of New Orleans explode with color, music, and celebration. Mardi Gras, the grandest festival in Louisiana, is famous for its parades, beads, masked revelers, and deep cultural traditions. But how did this extravagant celebration come to be?
From its European origins to the elaborate krewes and parades of today, the story of Mardi Gras is as rich and fascinating as Louisiana itself. Let’s take a journey through time to explore how this world-famous festival became one of the most beloved traditions in the South.
Mardi Gras: A Celebration with Ancient Roots
Mardi Gras, meaning “Fat Tuesday” in French, has origins that date back thousands of years. Many historians trace its beginnings to ancient Roman festivals, particularly:
- Saturnalia – A mid-December festival honoring Saturn, the god of agriculture, celebrated with feasts, costumes, and revelry.
- Lupercalia – A February festival where people danced, feasted, and celebrated fertility, marking the transition from winter to spring.
As Christianity spread across Europe, these pagan festivals were adapted into pre-Lenten celebrations. The idea was simple: People would indulge in food, drink, and festivities before the 40-day fasting period of Lent began on Ash Wednesday.
By the Middle Ages, France, Spain, and Italy had developed their own Carnival traditions, featuring elaborate masquerade balls, music, and street performances. French explorers eventually brought these traditions to the New World, where they would evolve into the Mardi Gras we know today.
1699: The First American Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras officially arrived in North America on March 3, 1699, when French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville landed near present-day Louisiana. Since it was Fat Tuesday, he named the area Pointe du Mardi Gras and held a small celebration.
His brother, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, would later establish the city of New Orleans in 1718, along with Mobile (Alabama) and Biloxi (Mississippi), which also held early Mardi Gras celebrations.
During Louisiana’s early colonial days, Mardi Gras remained a private affair, celebrated with masked balls and feasts. However, when the Spanish took control of Louisiana in the 1760s, they banned public celebrations of Mardi Gras. It wasn’t until Louisiana became an American state in 1812 that the festivities resurfaced—bigger than ever!
1857: The Krewe of Comus Changes Mardi Gras Forever
Before the mid-1800s, Mardi Gras in New Orleans was more of a wild street party, with costumed revelers roaming the city. But in 1857, a group called the Krewe of Comus changed everything.
- They introduced structured parades with themed floats and masked riders.
- The tradition of krewes (private social clubs that host parades and balls) was born.
- The concept of elaborate Mardi Gras “tableaux” (living scenes) at balls was introduced.
This organized spectacle became so popular that new krewes emerged in the following decades, including:
- Rex (1872) – Created Mardi Gras’ official colors:
- Purple for justice
- Green for faith
- Gold for power
- Zulu (1909) – Introduced the famous hand-painted coconut throws.
- Bacchus (1968) – Revolutionized Mardi Gras with celebrity monarchs leading the parade.
Today, there are over 70 krewes, each bringing their own unique traditions, floats, and throws to the festival.
Beads and Throws: “Throw Me Something, Mister!”
The tradition of throwing trinkets into the crowd dates back to the 1870s, when the Krewe of Rex—one of the oldest and most prestigious Mardi Gras krewes—began the custom of tossing glass beads to revelers. This added an interactive element to the parades and encouraged more public participation in the celebrations. Over time, other krewes embraced the tradition, and the throws became a signature feature of Mardi Gras parades.
By the early 20th century, the glass beads were replaced with cheaper, more durable plastic beads, making them more accessible and abundant. Eventually, krewes began competing to offer the most extravagant and unique throws, leading to the wild variety of items you see today.
King Cake: A Tasty Tradition
No Mardi Gras celebration is complete without King Cake, a delicious cinnamon pastry topped with purple, green, and gold icing. Inside the cake is a tiny plastic baby—whoever finds it must host the next Mardi Gras party!
The history of King Cake dates back to medieval France and Spain, where it was originally known as the Galette des Rois (“Cake of Kings”). It was traditionally baked in honor of the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6), marking the day when the Three Wise Men (or “Kings”) visited the baby Jesus. In early versions of the cake, a bean, coin, or figurine was hidden inside, and the lucky finder was crowned “king” for the day—a tradition that evolved into today’s King Cake custom.
Masks and Costumes
By law, all float riders must wear masks during Mardi Gras parades, a tradition that dates back to the earliest Carnival celebrations in Europe. In medieval times, masking was a way for people of all social classes—from nobility to commoners—to come together in celebration without the constraints of status, wealth, or reputation. During these early festivals, masks allowed individuals to freely mingle, speak their minds, and indulge in revelry without fear of judgment or consequence.
When Mardi Gras arrived in Louisiana, the tradition of wearing masks was quickly embraced, becoming an essential part of the festival’s identity. For many, donning a mask during Mardi Gras symbolizes freedom, mystery, and transformation. It gives people the opportunity to step outside their everyday identities and fully embrace the spirit of celebration. Whether adorned with feathers, sequins, beads, or elaborate hand-painted designs, these masks add an air of excitement and intrigue to the festivities.
The Zulu Coconut
The Krewe of Zulu is one of the most legendary and unique organizations in Mardi Gras history, best known for their tradition of throwing hand-painted coconuts to lucky parade-goers. Unlike traditional beads, doubloons, or stuffed animals, the Zulu coconut is considered one of the most coveted and collectible throws of the entire Mardi Gras season.
This cherished tradition dates back to the early 1910s, when the Krewe of Zulu, originally formed as a Black social aid and pleasure club, sought an affordable and distinctive alternative to the flashy beads and doubloons used by other krewes. At the time, many riders in Zulu’s early parades couldn’t afford elaborate trinkets, so they began tossing real coconuts—a readily available and inexpensive item.
To make them more festive and unique, riders began hand-painting and decorating the coconuts, turning them into one-of-a-kind pieces of Mardi Gras art. Over time, the Zulu coconut became a symbol of status and good fortune, making it one of the most sought-after throws during the festivities.
Mardi Gras in Cajun Country
While New Orleans’ Mardi Gras is known for its extravagant parades, elaborate floats, and bead-throwing krewes, Cajun Country celebrates in an entirely different way, embracing a tradition that is both deeply historical and wildly entertaining. In the rural towns of Louisiana, such as Eunice, Mamou, and Iota, locals participate in a unique and spirited event known as Courir de Mardi Gras, or “Mardi Gras Run.” Unlike the grand spectacles of the French Quarter, this version of Mardi Gras is rooted in medieval French traditions and reflects the strong Cajun heritage that has thrived in Louisiana for centuries.
In this lively celebration, costumed participants, known as “Mardi Gras runners,” embark on a rollicking horseback ride (or sometimes travel on foot or by wagon) through the countryside, going from house to house collecting ingredients for a massive communal gumbo that will be shared at the end of the day. Traditionally, they request a live chicken from homeowners, which adds an element of excitement as runners must chase, catch, and secure the chicken for the pot. While traveling from farm to farm, participants engage in traditional Cajun music, dancing, and playful antics, often accompanied by a local band playing lively accordion and fiddle tunes.
A key aspect of Courir de Mardi Gras is the costumes, which are vastly different from the glamorous masks and gowns worn in New Orleans. Instead, participants don handmade, wire-screen masks and colorful, fringed costumes, often patched together from fabric scraps. Many also wear tall, pointed hats called “capuchons,” reminiscent of the medieval jesters that once entertained in European carnivals. These disguises allow revelers to shed their everyday identities and fully embrace the spirit of mischief, anonymity, and revelry that defines the tradition.
Experience Louisiana Beyond Mardi Gras with Cajun Encounters!
Mardi Gras is more than just a festival—it’s a celebration of Louisiana’s culture, history, and traditions. Whether you’re catching beads in New Orleans or experiencing a Cajun-style Mardi Gras, the spirit of revelry and joy is alive in every corner of the state.
But Mardi Gras isn’t the only Louisiana adventure worth experiencing! Step away from the parade routes and discover the real Louisiana on a swamp tour with Cajun Encounters. Glide through the Honey Island Swamp, see alligators up close, and explore the wild beauty of Louisiana’s bayous.
