New Orleans Beads: Justice, faith, and power

Beads used on Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold, with these three colors containing the Christian symbolism of justice, faith, and power, respectively.

My first Mixed Media Travel series highlights the first historic city I grew up visiting, New Orleans. I roamed Uptown, Magazine St, the French Quarter, Bourbon, Frenchman Street and captured the magic of Nola.

Do you know about the beads thrown during Mardi Gras(and usually daily on Bourbon Street)? Well, you can’t go to New Orleans without seeing them covering balconies. This artfully decorated bra isn’t mine, but I really wish it was! I had to capture this wrought iron balcony relaxing in the summer sun showing off it’s gems in the French Quarter. And I honestly didn’t know the back story of Mardi Gras beads, so I did some Googling!

“Historians believe the tradition of tossing beads dates back to the English Renaissance era, but was introduced in New Orleans when a carnival king threw fake gems and jewelry to his “loyal subjects”.

Source from gatorbythebay.com

“The holiday began as a pagan celebration of spring and fertility that preceded the Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia. When the area converted to Catholic Christianity, nobody wanted to cancel the annual party, so it was converted to a feast observing the upcoming period of Lent, a time of sacrifice and introspection.

“The first Mardi Gras was held by French settlers on March 3, 1699, in Mobile, Alabama, once the capital of the Louisiana territory. In the late 1820s, the custom of dressing in colorful costumes and dancing in the streets had been established, and by the late 19th Century, krewes had officially been formed to handle the formal aspects of running the festival. In 1875, Louisiana Governor Henry Warmoth signed the Mardi Gras Act making it a state-recognized holiday.”

Source: wegotthisdiscoverd.com

Things have evolved since 1699, but the history behind the purple, green and gold is pretty cool. Traditions are beautiful - as they continue, they ebb and flow. Some things may get lost along the way, but with this 300+ year celebration I feel like community is one of the never ending variables that keeps people coming back each February to Nola. 

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

The mixed media above is titled ‘Beads, Balconies and Bras’ captured in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Shop all available work on my Original page