Sunday was the first Mardi Gras parade we attended in the little town of Scott. Although the parade didn’t start till 1 p.m. we were told to get there 3 to 4 hours ahead of time to get a good place. We left Abbeville at 10 a.m. arriving about 11 a.m. and still had to park 3/4 of a mile to our designated meeting place.
The official colors of Mardi Gras are purple (justice), green (faith) and gold (power) and was set back in 1872. The idea of throwing beads only started in 1900. Before that krewes threw out trinkets and coins. “Throw me something, Mister” was an early cry that usually was awarded with a favor of something.
We had all made up signs to show to the passing floats in the hopes of getting more “throws”, and it certainly worked! I think they wanted to make us “tourists” happy. Click on any photo to enlarge it. 
Soon the parade started. Now it wasn’t the kind of parade I was use to. This was more decorated flatbeds or vehicles for the sole purpose of throwing beads.
 Opening band |  Grand Marshall |
 Got to take photos |  of fire trucks |
 Now that’s a set of beads |  Couple of double-decker vehicles. |
Here are some of the floats…note the porta-potties in the back of some of the floats…now, THAT’S convenient.
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The hour long parade was fun and certainly provided us with a lot of loot!!!
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 Rich couldn’t move his head  |  Joyce is from Vermont and got this centerpiece from a float |
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At the happy hour afterwards most people reported that their stash of beads weighed between 25-30 pounds for each couple!!! We discussed what everyone was going to do with their beads. Most said they were going to their grandkids. Other suggestions were to give them to nursing homes for a special theme night, give to elementary school to use in the classrooms, or what I am going to do, give them to my hometown public library for use in their summer reading program.
We have more parades next week so we are gearing ourselves up for more fun to come!!!
Remember, you are loved!
Dear friends,we are worried about you. Each of you wearing a wheelbarrow load of shiney Mardi Gras beads around your necks, can mean only one thing.
ReplyDeleteEven here deep in the Arkansas Outback of the Ouachita Mountains, we have seen those terrible videos of people having to expose them selves to entice the people on the floats to throw beads to them.
It saddens us greatly and a black cloud is hanging over our hearts as we shudder while imagining our dear friends lining the road side displaying various body parts in exchange for beads.
He, he, joke, you guys, joke !
You know we are jealous of you all !
All those beads are going to put your RVs overweight!!
ReplyDeleteHi Bobbie! Looks like ya'll are having a blast! So happy that ya'll are having so much fun! Love your Cafe des Amis post, and the museum post in Erath! Your blog is wonderful and I'm really enjoying your coverage of Mardi Gras! Keep em' comin', cher!
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