We were up at 5:00 a.m., left the house at 6:00 to get to our spot at the Zulu Parade which started at 8:00 a.m. with a temperature of 36 degrees. These parades have lots of colorful floats and marching bands and last about 2 hours. We don’t have to bare anything to get beads; just put your hands in the air and be ready to catch whatever is thrown to you and hundreds of other people. Tradition has it that the baking of the traditional King Cake begins on January 6 – Epiphany – the celebration of the kings going to see Jesus. A small plastic baby Jesus is included with the Bundt shaped cake with frosting and sprinkled sugar in colors of purple, gold, and green for power, faith, and justice. This token is placed in the cake and whoever gets it in their piece has to bring the cake and have the party next year. 58 billion beads are thrown throughout the Mardi Gras season. No more cakes are made after midnight Mardi Gras, and no more beads are worn – party is over. Mardi Gras is so big that it’s actually a holiday and one big party for family and friends. The stores are packed the night before with people buying all kinds of food and drink.
On Wednesday we went to Mardi Gras World and took a tour of how floats are made. Lots of styrofoam, paint, and imagination! Each Krewe comes up with their theme and approximately 25 floats will be made for their parade. It’s quite an honor to be on the float throwing beads…you have to apply to be a member of the Krewe then pay a fee which could be $1000 and up; plus, buy beads to throw which could be another $1000.
On Wednesday we went to Mardi Gras World and took a tour of how floats are made. Lots of styrofoam, paint, and imagination! Each Krewe comes up with their theme and approximately 25 floats will be made for their parade. It’s quite an honor to be on the float throwing beads…you have to apply to be a member of the Krewe then pay a fee which could be $1000 and up; plus, buy beads to throw which could be another $1000.
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