New Orleans, Louisiana in the United States celebrates the biggest Mardi gras in the whole continent. However, Mardi gras are celebrated almost everywhere in the world. The celebrations vary from culture to culture and may behold some religious aspects in honor of patron saints as in the case of predominantly Catholic countries. Part of Mardi gras celebrations is throwing Mardi gras beads.

Traditionally, throwing of Mardi gras beads trace its roots to Czechoslovakia in the 1920’s. The spectators became so fond of beads that the “krewes” soon began throwing Mardi gras beads on the streets. The first used beads thrown were fabricated from glass were inexpensive strands. However, the popularity of glass beads raised their value so that plastic beads came to replace glass beads for safety reasons and because the latter became expensive towards the 1970’s.

The plastic beads were so designed as to emulate the jewels being worn by royalties. Today’s beads thrown in Mardi gras are more exciting as they come in a kaleidoscope of colors, shapes, and sizes. Two types of beads are thrown in a Mardi gras: “throw beads” (also called machine beads) and “handstrung beads”.

What is their difference? It’s actually on the process involved in assembling the beads. Machine beads are fabricated by directly molding plastic beads onto the thread. When done with molding the beads, a selected finish is applied, like metallic, pearl, or Aurora Borealis finishes. To close the strand, a heated metal pin is attached to the plastic ends and when melted ends are pressed against each other. Today’s makers simply slightly melt the two end beads and clasp them together.

Handstrung beads, meanwhile, are individually stringing the beads onto a thread. This type of Mardi gras beads is more unique, uses more colors, but more expensive as well compared to their machine counterparts. The distinction of handstrung beads is the medallion, which can be hung right in the middle or all over the necklace, and are made from metal alloy, molded plastic, or Polystone (a “polystone” is a ceramic filled with polymer).

You can tell the difference between both by examining the gaps in the Mardi gras beads. If the thread becomes clearly visible and the beads are immovable on the thread, then it’s most likely a machine bead. Mardi gras bead-twisting is another variation of Mardi gras beads. Mardi gras beaded necklaces are twisted to form various shapes and designs.

The history of Mardi gras in New Orleans can be attributed to the first French settlers in 1699. The French explorers celebrated a French holiday along the banks of the Mississippi River. Mardi gras literally mean “Fat Tuesday” and hence celebrated on that day of the week. The dates can vary depending on when the Easter is celebrated as determined by the Catholic Church. The Mardi gras in New Orleans is always celebrated 47 days prior to Easter Sunday.