A Flicker of Inspiration: Mardi Gras Beads

The Mardi Gras festival that most of us are familiar with started as celebration of the settlement of the French territory Louisiane, mingled with religious traditions leading up to Easter. On the final day before the Christian season of Lent, it is tradition to consume great quantities of things that must be given up during the time of fasting.

Over the years, this feast before the fast tradition has come to include pretty much anything that people wouldn’t do on any other day of the year. It can be quite the wild party, with revelers doing whatever they can to collect strands of Mardi Gras beads or throws.

If the idea of a holiday that centers around beads seems too good to be true, it probably is. Mardi Gras throws have seen some controversy in recent years, due in part to the documentary Mardi Gras: Made in China. Inspired by questions about globalization, David Redmon's film follows the path of plastic beads from a factory in China, to the streets of New Orleans. The LA Times said it "cleverly juxtaposes the apex of American bacchanalian excess with the sweatshop-like conditions that facilitate the fun."

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4. Mardi Gras Beads, 5. Mardi Gras | Carnival Masks, 6. rainbow mardi gras beads,
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Whatever you think of imported party favors, be sure to celebrate safely!

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