March 8th is “Fat Tuesday” – the last day of the Mardi Gras celebration! Some of the most timeless traditions associated with Mardi Gras are the parades. These parades date back to the 1820′s, but the introduction of the strands of beads, which we now associate with the celebration, didn’t happen until the 1920′s. Can you imagine 100 years of Mardi Gras without the beads?! We have the Rex Parade to thank for beginning the tradition of tossing beads to parade watchers. The first beads used were actually strands of Czech-made glass beads. The beads were so popular that within a few years, inexpensive, mass-produced plastic beads were being manufactured to keep up with demand. Although these beads can be found in many different colors, the most predominant, and widely recognizable, are purple, green and gold, which are meant to represent justice, faith and power. In a retro-inspired twist, glass beads are again becoming a popular throw during Mardi Gras parades. When the crowds cry “Throw me something Mister!” there are more and more limited-edition, intricate and specially designed beads being thrown, along with handfuls of the plastic ones. These newer versions, along with the original Czech glass beads, are highly collectible!
WIN THESE BEADS! All you have to do is leave a comment below to be entered in our contest, and if you blog about our contest you’ll receive 2 entries (be sure to comment with a link to your blog). On the evening of March 8th we’ll draw 6 names and all 6 will win a bag of beads identical to those pictured below. Good luck and thanks for playing!
Update!!! CONGRATULATIONS to the winners: Deci Worland, Faith Hersey, Roz, Theresa Rubin, Cecilie and Cheryl Renteria – and thank you everyone for playing!
- Press My Buttons !
YAY! I love them! ( and would realllllly like to have them!) I went to Marti Gras 2000.. and got some wonderful beads thrown to me. My favorite coin was the Bacchus coin from 2000! So, enter me in the drawing!
oooopppssss.. I meant “mardi” gras!
I would love those beads!
I love these beads! I hope I win!!!
I love those beads, they are perfect for evoking Mardi Gras!
These are beautiful! Which is exactly what you’d expect from Happy Mango~
Faith, you won a bag of Mardi Gras Beads! Please email your address to: contest@happymangobeads.com and we’ll send them right out.
Love the beads! Love Mardi Gras!! It means Spring is on it’s way! (finally!)
Great beads. I love the yellow and blue ones.
ooooh yummy beads!
I could really use these beads. I have stopped beading because all of a sudden the beads started to look alike. But these beads are beautiful. I NEED THEM!!!!!
WOW….. GORGEOUS!!!!
Blue skies, green grass and yellow flowers! Springtime is nearly here and these beads so tell that story.
small things come in beautiful packages or so I was aways told, As a jewellery maker I know this to be true.. such beauty in the delicate beads and hopefully the things I make.. ohh what I could make in a wet England with these gorgeous colours.
great colors!
I am a big fan of Mango Beads, after my first purchase. These beads will work beautifully for a bracelet,and I would love to win!! Thanks.,…
Gorgeous beads! I especially love the purple matte …ooh, and the turquoise … and … *drools*
I would love to win these beads!!!
It would be such fun to go to Mardi Gras at least once–but winning these beads would be a close second!
I would love to win! Happy Beading!
Blogged about it
I live with a Cajun and of course with her came all those lovely traditions. She has an entire jewelry case full of tokens and beads originating from the various Krewes. This stuff is beautiful, even the plastic.
I only recently moved away from New Orleans and I still have tons of beads. Good times!
Fat Tuesday is the LAST day of Mardi Gras! The Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans begins on Twelfth Night and really revs up during the last two weeks. The next day is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, when all the parties are supposed to end.
The beads are great.
Thank you Mary An, I’ll correct that right now!
Joyful and fling-y, what a beautiful spring thingy!
They’re gorgeous, all the brilliant colors of spring!
Thanks for the education about the bead throwing tradition and the opportunity to win these beautiful beads!
Beautiful beads that I would LOVE to have!! As a new beader each approaching holiday is such fun thinking and designing my new pieces. These would be a great addition!
What beautiful beads – I’d love to be the lucky winner! As a new beader I’m having a great time designing new pieces for each holiday. These would be a great addition!
Wow..love those colors. I actually made myself a mardi gras bracelet last year with those colors but I had no idea the meaning of them. If I had 12 thumbs they would by UP…LOL
Congratulations Cheryl! You won a bag of Mardi Gras Beads! Please email your address to contest@happymangobeads.com and we’ll send them right away.
I organize a mardi gras celebration at work every year and everyone just loves it! We decorate our conference room and individual areas; get the beads, wear them and have a pot-luck.
It’s so much fun and not nearly as expensive as going to New Orleans. (chuckle……..)
Great giveaway! Thank you. Interesting history too.
I subscribed to your blog!
What a spring color mix. Love it.
Laissez les bons temps roulez!!!
What fantastic beads! I recently moved to southwest Louisiana, and the parties don’t get as big on this side of the state (from what I understand) but Mardi Gras is a whole new thing to this little Canadian, and so much fun!
Good blog – I didn’t know the history of the actual beads. Thanks!
love those beads…especially the dots. Now those are Mardi Gras beads!
Great article…never knew…thanks!
One of my favorite memories was in 8th grade my Mom took me to my Aunt Johnnie’s for Mardi Gras. I came back to Texas with so many necklaces and dablooms. These beads would be great to win they are so beautiful!
Sounds like an amazing parade. I live in South West England where the local parades involve ‘hot pennies’ or sweets being thrown to the the crowds. I know which I would prefer! The colours are inspirational – I think that I will go to my craft den now, with a mug of hot chocolate on this cold frosty morning, and start beading away with the selection of Happy Mango beads I ordered last year.
Great beads! Feminine and unique. I would love to win! Please count me in.
In 1962 when I was ten years old, my family moved from Milwaukee to Slidell, LA, just across the channel from New Orleans. We were introduced to Mardi Gras the next year, and fell in love with it; the noise, the colors, the smells, and the exuberance of an entire city throwing a huge and raucous party for itself. And *old* party, too … Mardi Gras in North America actually began in Mobile, AL, back in the 1700s.
New Orleans made the party its own, though. And back in those days, before they mandated plastic beads for safety reasons, many of the “throws” were actually Czech glass beads! I still have many of those beads today, decades later, and they are treasured.
I love that your beads are in the Mardi Gras colors. Winning this contest would be just like those special moments when a reveler would catch your eye and throw you an entire hank of beads! T’row me sumthin’, mistah! Laissez le bon temps rouler!!!
I have a small but wonderful collection of Mardi Gras beads; lived for years in Louisiana and still miss it. Love them!
I love the color and variety of these beads. They make me happy.
Laissez lex bijoux rollez!
I have a soft spot for New Orleans since I visited there in 1999…and what better way to remember the fun I had than with beautiful Mardi Gras beads!
love learning new things…about the origin of mg beads
they sure are pretty and hope i win some so i can make something fun
I love these beautiful Mardi Gras beads. The colors are gorgeous!
wow i love the idea to post the comment and win the beads. hoping that beads will be added on my collection.
Great story on the history of Mardi Gras beads……they’re wonderful…..I hope I win!
After spending a year and a half in New Orleans on disaster recovery, I found myself falling in love with this wonderful place I feel like is my second home. I was at the first Mardi Gras after Katrina, and they really know how to celebrate in spite of the devastation all around. The ladder-lined streets, excited kids, the colors–it makes one feel like family. I found it so cool how all banks close, grocery stores close early, and the kids are out of school for this beloved state “holiday”. It is party time!!! I have lots of beautiful beads, and enjoyed the many King Cakes everywhere…always one somewhere. When I left, I knew I would be back, and I did go back. The people, the culture, the architecture, the food, the music, and experiencing the catastrophic mess that happened, leaves a special place in my heart. There’s just something about New Orleans…..
I didn’t know that there were traditional colors for Mardi Gras beads. Thanks for the tip! I’d love some.
I love beads and I loooove Mardi Gras and and I’d really really love some bags of beads x x x
Go on pick meeeeeeeeeeeee ya know ya wanna ^_~
Love you guys lots x x
I was lucky enough to find some beads last year in a small
shop in Santa fe NM. I love them. I take them out and look at them. They always make me happy
Love the colors! Thanks for the history behind the beads.
Hey ! Throw me these beads!
Totally gorgeous beads!
These are beautiful! The purple is an especially pretty shade.
These are beautiful!
Thanks for the history! My son lives in New Oreans.
LOVELY!!!!!!! L’aissez les bon temps roullet!
Ooh, so pretty. Please enter my name in the drawing!
Thanks.
I would love a chance to win these beads. I’m getting more and more into beading and love adding to my stash. Thanks.
My daughter went to college in New Orleans. I was always making excuses to go to the Big Easy. Love it there. The beads are just fantastic.
Just blogged about your giveaway with links back to your blog.
Great! What’s the link to your blog?
Awesome beads! My fingers are crossed.
From the darkness of unspeakable pain from Katrina,
comes the majesty and color of life and endurance.
Each year of recovery is a step forward and speaks to the amazing recovery of the human spirit. Thank you for paying tribute to the many spirits that have survived and continue to rebuild this incredible city.
What utterly gorgeous Mardi Gras beads! Just what I’d expect from Happy Mango Beads. I’m crossing my fingers to win!
count me into the festivities …weee
@nutmeg237
If I win these I will take them to my Zumba class and really party!!! Awesome blog!
What a festive mix! And nothing better than free beads
Would love to win these.
Wow – This is the ideal giveaway as my teenage daughter and I love sitting down and making jewelry together.
ty for the chance to enter.
I’m in!
Congratulations Deci! You won a bag of Mardi Gras Beads! Please email your address to contest@happymangobeads.com and we’ll send them right away.
Great beads! Would love to win them!
I would love to win these beautiful beads.
Posted this great contest on my blog http://gemtrails.blogspot.com/2011/03/happy-mango-mardi-gras-giveaway.html
I am loving that purple! Mardi Gras is all about these colors, and I would love to make something with them.
lovely, lovely beads!!
I love these beads!!! We celebrate Mardi Gras at the bar I work at every year with zeal! Love it!
Gorgeous beads
Could make some real beauties out of this collection… A bunch of vibrant jewels and juiciness to smother any colourful girl!
Never been to Mardi Gras, hope to make it there some day, but in desperate need of some new beads, and I really like these!
I never knew! Purple, green & gold… justice, faith & power… makes one stop and think
Very colorful!!
Thanks for the chance!
Woah that’s an awesome selection of beads! I especially love the purple and turquoise matt beads.
Blogged:
http://birchbarkbeads.blogspot.com/
Such beautiful beads. I love the name of your blog. Mangoes….yummmmmmm….
Fat Tuesday is tradtionally the day to feast before the fast, I would love to feast on these beautiful beads before the fasting season. Thank you, Happy Mango Beads!
What a cute bead collection! A chance at free stuff is always great!
wow, those are beautiful colors. That would be so awesome to win them!!!
oooh, I could do so much with these – they are beautiful x
ME, ME, ME, PLEASE!!!!!
I can’t believe how fast this year seems to be flying! Mardi Gras already… holy cats! Love his mix of beads! Could definitely have fun designing with them!
Have a terrific week!
Dawn
I love the color combo of purple and green and gold! I have a lot of that combo, especially the purple and green in my home! Thanks for the info on the beads and the chance to win some!!
OK, Just so you know, Mardi Gras translates into Fat Tuesday (French). Mardi Gras is the last day of the Carnival season which started on 12th night the 6th of January. It all ties into the Catholic religion and encompasses Lent and the Debutant season
Laissez les bon temps rouler! (let the good times role!)
Linda
I can’t help but think that when beads were first thrown during Mardi Gras most black people were slaves but in New Orleans, there were also free blacks. For these people, justice, faith and power were words with a great deal of meaning. Just as important, beads were very important as items of beauty and as “coins” used to trade items (i.e., as “money). Think of African trade beads and you know this makes sense. Think of the story of NYC traded for beads with the native peoples. I’m glad that glass beads are making a comeback.
I’d like to win these beads because I love them and have recently ordered some of the beads pictured, and because I think you have a great company. Thanks for the chance at a bag of beads!
Congratulations Theresa! You won a bag of Mardi Gras Beads! Please email your address to contest@happymangobeads.com and we’ll send them right away.
All my favorite colors! What fun! These are definitely party beads!
Love these- would love to give them a home!
Just blogged about the great party atmosphere over here! Check out my Babbling Beader blog at http://www.babblebead.blogspot.com
I can’t wait to experience Mardi Gras myself. These beads represent a fun mix that a lot of jewelry should have. Gorgeous. Inspiring.
Spring colors yah. Hope I win.
Thanks, Chris
Fantastic colour beads ,I would love these plzzz
Good luck everyone
These aren’tcolors I would normally buy, but would love to try!
“Hey Mister”! Throw me some beads! Happy Mardi Gras!
Wowzers! Those beads are gorgeous! I would love to win those! Count me in!
Laissez les bons temps roulez!!! Hope everone is having a great Mardi Gras Holiday. I love those beads and so would my daughter.
Love love love love love these beads! Need them in my collection!
holy cow! i came over here from cool moon, and i am blown away by the absolutely gorgeous beads you are giving away! i would die and go to heaven if i won all these!
what a beautiful collection of beads
After two years of living in Baton Rouge, I always celebrate Mardi Gras! And your beads look marvellous!!!
These are the most beautiful assortment of Beads I have seen yet! I ABSOLUTELY love the colors!
i posted about the giveaway on my blog.
Those are SOOOOOO yummy!!!!! MINE! MINE! MINE!
Oh I could do so many neat things with those beads!
Thanks for holding this great giveaway!
My fiance would love these!
Since I will probably never make it to Louisiana I would love to win the Mardi Gras beads from you.
Wow!!!what gorgeous beads
I blogged about your wonderful give away
Love the colors teal and purple, and the yellow looks great with them! Interesting facts about Mardis Gras – thanks for sharing. And thanks for the chance to get beads without having to flash…lol!!
I love these colors and the ‘shiny’ ones. I’d love to win them….. . listen to my happy VooDoo doll… she is telling you to pick me!
I seem to be collecting beads more than creating things with with them. For the time being…
WOW…those are fantastic colors! Love them love them love them
dot
Beads are gorgeous! I sure would like to win these and make something(s) beautiful with them.
What great information on the Mardi Gras! I wish they would give out more glass beads – the plastic ones may be cheaper, but not nearly so pretty, in my opinion.
LOVE the beads! Can’t ever get too much purple, green and gold! I never have gotten to go to Mardis Gras, but I definitely have the spirit! In fact, I’ve been changing my profile pic daily to a Mardis Gras pic. Love u guys and thanks for an awesome chance for some really beautiful beads!
Thanks for all the grat contests and blogs. No wonder why you have so many fans! (I count myself among them!)
These are so amazing! I haven’t ever seen a group of mardi gras beads more beautiful
I love these beads! Beautiful colors….my mind has several ideas on how to use them already
I would love to be one of the lucky winners of these pretty beads.
Enyer me please!
My mom grew up in New Orleans, and I’ve heard all the stories and lore that go along with the Mardi Gras celebrations and parades, but I’ve never been able to go to Mardi Gras! Winning the beads would be the closest thing to being there, I think
Congratulations Cecilie! You won a bag of Mardi Gras Beads! Please email your address to contest@happymangobeads.com and we’ll send them right away.
Wow those are beautiful beads! I hope I can be one of the lucky ones to win….”throw me something ;-p”
myearthlyjewels(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you for the history on the beads!!
Happy Mardi Gras!!
Have wonderful memories of a Mardi Gras spent in New Orleans when Bob Hope was the King. Loved the beads then and would love to have the ones shown as well.
Ooooh, la la! These are so beautiful. I learn so much from Happy Mango blog posts. Thank you Happy Mango. I would love to win this selection of beads!
absolutely a fabulous mardi gras combo! i can see some awesome bracelts and earrings from this mix
My heritage is New Orleans and I’ve been to Mardi Gras twice. Best time of my life. Would love those beads. Thankyou for sharing.
Congratulations Roz! You won a bag of Mardi Gras Beads! Please email your address to contest@happymangobeads.com and we’ll send them right away.
mmm, love them, especially the green ones, it would make an awesome bracelet
Those beads are just fabulous & I’d love to be entered to win. Never had the chance to attend a Mardi Gras parade, so throw me some, please!
My daughter and her boyfriend just got back yesterday from New Orleans and the Mardi Gras celebration they had a blast!! But What i though was so cool was that boyfriend being from the south, told her that she had to go up to the floats in the parade and ask for the GOOD BEADS!! Needless to say she got some great ones!!!
My husband took me in 1999 and I got so many beautiful beads that I could not carry them all. My favorite one is the Bacus head that Jim belushi threw to me. My father inlaw freaked asking me how I got it because they were gifts for the people on the floats. He is from Nawlins : ) I still have them all.
I think i left my comment in the wrong section ( i pressed “reply” on somebody else’s name, instead of comment) so hopefully i still get to enter the contest for those lovely beads!!!
I love all those colorful beads
Read about the giveaway in Lisa’s blog. Boy, are they beautiful and would be perfect for the new project I’m starting. Good Luck to everyone and Happy “Fat Tuesday”.
First of all, doesn’t the name Happy Mango Beads, send you on a vacation in your mind? It does for me,and the bright neon colored resin beads, I ordered,made me very happy…Thanks HMB!
Who Dat! Mango Beautiful Beads! I would love a chance of winning the mardi gra beads.
Nice piece! It’s so hard to find good info on beads on the web nowadays with all the fluff that is out there.
I look forward to reading more of your articles and keep up the good work.