Mardi Gras

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2006 Mardi Gras Highlights

Mardi Gras Meaning Behind the Colors

The meaning behind the Mardi Gras colors is an significant part of the party. Mardi Gras is a festival celebration in New Orleans, Louisiana. It gets underway each year on Fat Tuesday, the Tuesday prior Ash Wednesday which can fall anywhere between February 3 and March 9. While the exact date when Mardi Gras began is unknown there is at least one historical mention to it that goes back as far as 1743. Mardi Gras is marked by costume balls, debutante balls, parades and a general party mood.

On going debates have taken place about the meaning behind the Mardi Gras colors. The colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. As early as the 19th century revelers on Mardi Gras parade floats would throw candy, small favors, and beads in the official Mardi Gras colors to the crowd. The debate centers around why these colors were chosen. One explanation is that they just happened to look good together as party colors. Another more detailed explanation centers around the Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff of Russia. The Grand Duke is said to have been in New Orleans in 1872 to track Lydia Thompson who was a well known dancer and actress of the period.

One story concerning the meaning behind the Mardi Gras colors says that the krewe or group that was putting on the Mardi Gras parade that year felt that the festival had grown so large and necessary that it needed a "King of the Carnival". The Russian Grand Duke was the main choice to be the first Rex as he is called or king. The Grand Duke accepted and was given the task of choosing the official colors for the celebration. He chose purple, green and gold. No one really knows why he picked those three colors. The Grand Duke apparently either felt they had a royal look or he simply liked them, because he went on the choose those same colors as his own family crest for the House of Romanoff. It can be speculated that purple was already associated with royalty. Green is frequently seen in both Protestant and Catholic parties which may account for their relationship with faith and gold representing power is self-explanatory. The people of New Orleans striaght away liked the colors and integrated them into each part of the event.

The meaning behind the Mardi Gras colors was set once and for all twenty years later. In 1892 the theme for that year's Rex parade was "The Symbolism of Color", it was at that time that the colors formally received their meanings; purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. For Mardi Gras revelers today these colors are synonymous with the festival itself. As are the purple, green and gold Mardi Gras beads that are thrown from parade floats and balconies to the revelers below. It is interesting to note that Louisiana State University and Tulane University are said to have chosen their school colors because of the Mardi Gras. Louisiana State chose purple and gold while Tulane picked green. The official Mardi Gras colors purple, green and gold have become synonymous with the celebration itself.

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Mardi Gras ideas for parties, games, events, and activities for both the young and old. Include
Mardi Gras party supplies
to match the celebration.
Printable Mardi Gras party games
fun for everyone.