Why Are Beads Thrown During Mardi Gras?

Each year, over 1 million people gather in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, a wild parade of indulgence and revelry that mirrors the hedonistic celebrations of ancient Rome. Amidst the festivities on Bourbon Street, plastic beads fly through the air, exchanged like currency between partygoers. Some trade beads for bare displays or drinks, while others collect them to wear in colorful layers around their necks. Around 25 million pounds of beads are distributed every year, making them as iconic to Fat Tuesday as sweet drinks and King Cake.

While traditions may be elusive, Mardi Gras historians trace the origins of bead distribution back to the 1870s or 1880s, centuries after French settlers first brought the celebration to Louisiana in the 1600s. Local party organizers, known as krewes, began tossing shiny trinkets to the crowd as part of the festivities. Initially, chocolate-covered almonds were thrown, but revelers soon added their own mischievous touch, hurling dirt or flour to cause a stir.

Why beads? Small objects symbolizing wealth, health, and prosperity have appeared throughout human history. In ancient Egypt, such tokens were given in hopes of securing a favorable afterlife. The abacus, an early bead-based accounting system, relied on trinkets for calculations. Even in pagan rituals, people threw grains into the earth before winter to appease deities believed to ensure a bountiful harvest.

Humans, according to archaeologist Laurie Wilkie, have a natural "bead lust," an irresistible attraction to shiny objects. This might explain why so many people flock to Mardi Gras, eagerly reaching up to claim a gift of inexpensive plastic beads.

The first Mardi Gras beads were crafted from glass, but with the rise of mass production methods overseas in the 1960s, plastic beads flooded the scene. Unlike their organic predecessors, these plastic beads have faced criticism for contributing to environmental and health concerns. Composed of petroleum, they often contain lead, which leaches into the soil and rubs off on hands. After a Mardi Gras celebration, it is estimated that 4000 pounds of lead remain behind. In 2017, New Orleans spent $7 million on cleanup efforts to remove beads from storm drains, and by 2018, the city had installed gutter guards to prevent beads from entering the system. In response, scientists have been working on eco-friendly alternatives, such as biodegradable beads made from microalgae.

Despite their environmental drawbacks, Mardi Gras beads have become as much a part of the celebration as Christmas stockings or Thanksgiving turkeys. However, the enthusiasm for these beads is fleeting. In 2018, 46 tons of beads were collected from just five blocks of the main parade route on Charles Street. Clearly, no celebration should leave behind such a mess or bad energy.