Booze, boobs, and utter debauchery. That sums up Mardi Gras, right? Not at all, but that’s what a lot of people think! In this post, we’re setting the record straight and sharing 10 common misconceptions about Mardi Gras.
Amanda and her wife lived in New Orleans for a while, and Kayla has visited twice during Mardi Gras. We love the Mardi Gras season, but too often we received raised eyebrows or shocked reactions when we mention going to Mardi Gras – especially when Kayla mentions she took her daughter when she was one and two!
We’re here to clear the air and put some of these misconceptions about Mardi Gras to rest. By the end of this post, you’ll be ready to join in on the Mardi Gras festivities (and if you have kids you’ll want to bring them along for the fun too!).
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Common Misconceptions About Mardi Gras
1. Mardi Gras is something people in New Orleans made up.
FALSE. Mardi Gras celebrations can actually be traced back to the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe!
Mardi Gras translates to Fat Tuesday in French. It is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and marks the last day that people can fatten themselves up before fasting for Lent. Europeans marked the day with celebrations and feasting, and as France expanded its colonies, the tradition of celebrating Fat Tuesday expanded with it.
In 1699, a French-Canadian explorer made landfall 60 miles south of New Orleans and called the area Pointe du Mardi Gras. Four years later, the first recorded Mardi Gras celebrations were held in the area.
Of course back then, Mardi Gras consisted mainly of feasting and celebrations. Over the course of over 150 years though, new traditions were formed that became iconic to Mardi Gras as we know it today. Street processions began taking place around the 1830s and it wasn’t until 1870 that we hear of any items being thrown during the parades.
In 1875, Mardi Gras was declared a legal state holiday in Louisiana. This means a lot of folks get the day off work and children are out of school so they can participate in the festivities surrounding the holiday!
2. Mardi Gras only lasts one day.
FALSE. The state holiday only lasts on one day (Fat Tuesday), but Mardi Gras celebrations last for several weeks!
The Mardi Gras season begins on January 6th each year and runs until Fat Tuesday. Why January 6th? Around the world, this date is recognized by many Christians as Epiphany (also sometimes referred to as Three Kings Day). It is a day where celebrations take place to commemorate the Wise Men visiting Jesus after his birth.
Since Fat Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter and Easter can fall on a different day from year to year, the dates of Mardi Gras are not always the same. The math of it all can be a little confusing, but the main thing to know is you have several weeks to join in on the festivities!
As each week of the Mardi Gras season passes, the scale of the celebrations begin ramping up with the biggest and most highly anticipated parades happening in the final days leading up to Fat Tuesday and on the holiday itself.
During Mardi Gras season, there are not only several parades a week, but a lot of times there are several parades a day! While most parades take place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, there are some sprinkled throughout the week as well. The best way to keep track of all the parades is to check the Mardi Gras New Orleans Parade Calendar.
3. The parades are only confined to the French Quarter.
FALSE. The French Quarter is the most well known area of New Orleans, but parades take place all over the city!
You can see parades in the French Quarter, Uptown New Orleans, Covington, Mandeville, Marigny, Slidell, Metairie, Westbank, East New Orleans, and other areas!
Using the Mardi Gras New Orleans Parade Calendar, you can lookup all the parades that will be taking place during your visit. When you click on a parade, it will tell you a little history of that specific parade, the time it will take place, the part of town it will take place, the number of floats that will be in the parade, and you’ll get to see a route map.
If you’re planning on visiting Mardi Gras, you’ll want to go ahead and bookmark the parade calendar, because it’s a fantastic resource to stay in the loop on everything happening during the festival season!
4. Every parade is the same.
FALSE. One of the best things about Mardi Gras is that every parade is different and they all have fun themes!
There are numerous krewes that have been formed over the years that are in charge of organizing the Mardi Gras parades. These social organizations each have a theme and traditions that are unique to their specific krewe’s history.
For example, the Krewe of Cleopatra parade is known for throwing Egyptian themed beads and souvenirs. The Krewe of King Arthur parades throw out swords, shields, and their extremely rare signature throw of bedazzled goblets known as “Grails”. The Krewe of Carrolton is known for throwing decorated shrimp boots, and the Krewe of Muses is famous for their signature throw of glittered high heel shoes.
Signature throws are rare to catch, but part of the allure to these parades is the possibility of catching these sought after throws. Read up on the history of the various krewes before your visit to learn more about the parade themes and signature throws to keep an eye out for. Dressing up to match the theme of the krewes is a fun way to immerse yourself in Mardi Gras culture!
5. The parades only throw out beads.
FALSE. The beads are actually the least exciting throw you will catch during the parade!
Mardi Gras parades are not like your typical hometown parades where you’ll leave with a handful of goodies. Some of these floats are two stories high with people lining the perimeter chucking all sorts of random things from them.
Beads are the most frequent things thrown. But you’ll also potentially catch cups, koozies, stuffed animals, glow sticks, hula hoops, balls, commemorative medallions, moonpies, mini umbrellas, etc. It is a ridiculous mixup of random items which is one of the things that makes the parades so much fun. You never know what you’re going to leave with! Last year, we saw someone catch this enormous container of cheese puffs!
We are not exaggerating when we say you will need to bring bags to hold all the things you catch (if you’re very lucky you’ll catch one, but don’t count on it!). If you go to more than one parade, and are standing remotely close, you will be loaded down with all sorts of goodies. You won’t be able to hold it all (or even wear it all), because your horde will get heavy fast and you’ll need your hands free to catch more throws!
6. All beads are created equal.
FALSE. There is a hierarchy of beads that you should know about.
There are the iconic beaded necklaces that you associate with Mardi Gras. Then there are beads that are a little larger and a little more rare to catch. Then there are BIG beads which are the most coveted beads. If you catch BIG beads, you will be the source of admiration and envy, and you can go home clad in your BIG beads knowing that you have done Mardi Gras right. Because these beads are rarer though, people go absolutely nuts when they are being proffered by one of the throwers above.
There are also beads that are themed to each individual parade’s krewe. For example, when we went to the Parade of King Arthur, we caught beads that had a large colorful pendant painted with the image of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. These beads are a super fun catch because they are parade-specific and fall somewhere between the medium beads and BIG beads on the hierarchy.
7. The parades are the only special thing about Mardi Gras.
FALSE. While the parades are the main draw to Mardi Gras for many, there are other fun things to look forward to also!
If you go to New Orleans during Mardi Gras, you’ll be treated to spectacular decorations adorning the buildings and homes throughout the city. Purple, green, and gold garland is draped on balconies. Beads and baubles hang from fenceposts and trees. Mardi Gras themed Christmas trees can be found in many businesses and hotels. And brass bands can be found playing throughout the city on nearly every corner.
Not only are the stores and homes decked out in Mardi Gras themed decor, so are a lot of the people (and pets)! Some people make subtle nods to Mardi Gras by wearing purple, green, and gold clothing and accessories. Others go all out by wearing elaborate costumes that correlate to the parades they’ll be seeing that day.
Some of the most extravagant costumes are on the dates of the krewe balls. These exclusive gatherings are a way to reveal the identities of the krewe’s king and queen and celebrate Mardi Gras. If you’re lucky enough to see people coming and going from the balls, you are in for a treat! The krewe members go all out and typically are the best dressed among Mardi Gras celebrants.
Also unique to the Mardi Gras season are king cakes. The colorful cakes start popping up in grocery stores throughout Louisiana in January. But if you want the best king cakes, you’ll need to go directly to the source – the bakeries that make them.
Who serves the best king cake in New Orleans? It’s the source of heated debate. Everyone has their own opinion, but we are particularly fond of the king cakes made by Manny Randazzo. But if you’re planning on picking up one of their famous cakes, you’ll need to wake up early to get in line. Cakes are sold on a first come basis, and they can sell out fast!
You can also find king cake flavored treats during Mardi Gras. You may stumble upon a coffee shop offering king cake lattes or king cake croissants. We absolutely love the king cake pralines at Southern Candymakers off Decatur St – they’re delicious!
8. There are boobs & alcohol everywhere.
FALSE. This is one of the biggest misconceptions about Mardi Gras.
New Orleans can be a wild place if you want it to be or pretty tame. It all will depend on where you choose to spend your time. If you stay on Bourban Street, you’ll see lots of drunken revelry and probably some boobs. If you’re not on Bourban Street, you might see some alcohol but probably not any boobs.
We’ve been to Mardi Gras several times between the two of us and never seen any boobs at the day time or night time parades. You do not have to flash anyone to get beads or other throws, and it isn’t a common thing to take place.
The parades are considered a family-friendly event and typically have a lot of children in attendance outside of Bourban Street. People definitely have a good time, and the French Quarter is notoriously an open container area. But in general, everyone is pretty respective of the fact that children are in attendance and often times also in the parades’ dance troupes and marching bands.
With that being said, if you go to any super touristy souvenir shop, you’re bound to see boob-themed merchandise.
9. Mardi Gras isn’t family friendly.
FALSE. Mardi Gras is a family celebration enjoyed by people of all ages!
There are lots of children at the Mardi Gras parades, especially the daytime ones. The parade floats are good about making sure little ones get their fair share of throws, and usually have kid-friendly throws like stuffed animals and such reserved to throw to them.
If you’re trying to decide which part of the Mardi Gras season would be best for visiting with children, we recommend the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday. The week before is a nice sweet spot where there are lots of parades, but the general atmosphere hasn’t quite yet peaked to the madhouse New Orleans can become during the week of Fat Tuesday.
Some things to keep in mind about taking your children to Mardi Gras parades:
Look at the parade routes in advance, so you can decide where you want to be standing along the parade route. When you have kids with you, it’s always a good idea to camp out in an area that looks like it’ll have restrooms nearby (so, near hotels, coffee shops, restaurants, etc.). Just be prepared to have to make a purchase to be able to gain access to the restrooms.
The parades on longer routes can take a couple of hours for the start of the parade to make it from the beginning to the finish line. Use the parade tracker app to see how fast a parade is moving in real time and when you should go camp out along the route.
The marching bands can be quite loud. You may want to consider ear protection for smaller children for those portions of the parade.
Keep an eye on the weather, and pack rain gear and warm clothing for your child. Kayla’s daughter was one during their first Mardi Gras experience. It was chilly during the nighttime parade, especially for her daughter who was sitting in the stroller. Her daughter’s hands were so cold, Kayla and Amanda had to take turns holding them to keep them warm. When they returned for the second year, there were torrential downpours. Thankfully she had remembered to pack rain gear and the stroller cover, so her daughter stayed dry while everyone else was soaked!
The throws can sometimes be intense. We’ve been whacked in the face a few times with not just a few beads, but whole packages of beads that weigh a few pounds. Keep an eye out for your little one when the bigger floats pass. If you’ll be traveling with more than one adult, it’s a good idea to have one designated as guard to catch things that fly toward the child.
10. Mardi Gras parades only take place in New Orleans.
FALSE. Mardi Gras celebrations take place all over the world!
New Orleans is the hub of Mardi Gras festivities, but parades take place in neighboring cities in Louisiana and in Alabama as well. Mobile, Baton Rogue, and Biloxi are 3 Southern US cities known for putting on a good show for Mardi Gras.
You can get in the Mardi Gras spirit all year long if you visit Disney World in Orlando and stay at Port Orleans Riverside or Port Orleans French Quarter resorts. While the Riverside resort gives the laid back feel of life along the Mississippi River, French Quarter is aptly named with buildings that have wrought iron balconies, a cafe that serves Mickey shaped beignets, and Mardi Gras beads given out to guests upon arrival.
If you happen to be at Disney World on Fat Tuesday, you can also see a mini parade through Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter resorts made up of golf carts decorated by cast members who are also typically dressed in Mardi Gras attire. Both resorts usually also offer special activities throughout the day.
The neighboring theme park of Universal Studios Orlando has a larger scale parade with big floats and special events that run the length of the Mardi Gras season. You can even pay to ride on a float during the parade and toss beads to people below!
Mardi Gras celebrations outside the USA are typically referred to as Carnival. The most well known Carnival celebrations take place in Rio de Janiero, Brazil with over 2 million people in attendance each year to see the spectacular parades known for amazing floats, showgirls in feathered bedazzled costumes, and samba choreography.
Venice, Italy is another city known for its Carnival celebrations. The festival is known for its masquerade balls where attendees dress in elaborate period-piece costumes and identities are hidden behind Venetian masks. The parades are also unique in that they take place on the city’s famous canals!
Did any of these misconceptions about Mardi Gras surprise you? Let us know in the comments below!
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