Yesterday I was zipping around town on my bike when I saw a little collection of very unassuming Mardi Gras beads on the ground. They were laid out in the colors of Carnival– purple, green and gold across a section of the road paved more heavily with shells than asphalt.
Then I noticed another set of nondescript little beads, just a few feet from the first.
Hmm – had someone had a little parade?
And what was this – more little beads?
And still more.
Now mind you, this is nothing like what you’d see in the street after a genuine full blown Mardi Gras parade. This was more like the detritus left by a couple of kids with a wagon playing at parading.
Or maybe the beads came from an event at the bar on the corner. Who knows?
What’s interesting is that these beads are kind of old school. Not big, not pearly, not metallic, not flashing. These are the kinds of beads that were thrown during parades maybe fifteen years ago. Beads like this don’t get much attention anymore. People want big, shiny long strands of beads that you don’t have to unclip to put around your neck. They want something with a giant medallion, or something that lights up.
I guess I’ll never know the origin of the mysterious Mardi Gras beads in the street, but I really like the way they turned out in my photographs, getting the attention they no longer receive during modern parades.
You’re right, no one wants those beads anymore. When they are thrown from the floats, they are often left behind! This post makes me even more excited for Mardi Gras. Can’t wait to yell “Big Beads!”
I also love your pictures!
Thanks Kristen! There are more NOLA pics every day on nolanature.wordpress.com and noladetails.wordpress.com, if you’re interested. I know – crazy me – trying to keep a daily post on three blogs!
Yay! I hope you go home with tons and tons of beads!
I’ve been following your blog for a little bit now and it’s been really enjoyable! Love living vicariously through others – I’ve always wanted to visit your part of the country but it’s never worked out so far. Great photos and stories!
Thanks, Christine! I’m having more fun with this than expected! I’m enjoying your photo per day. I look forward to seeing what you work on each day with your photography.
I’m not sure if you’ve picked up on this, but right now I’m trying to maintain three daily blogs. Two are photo blogs about New Orleans, one of nature and one of mostly architecture, and then my writing blog. I’m sorry if you already knew that and I’m being redundant, but if not, stop by! You can get to them via my gravatar or on the side bar of my writing blog.
Oh, whoops – I did tell you already! Sorry!
You know what makes these beads beautiful to me? Your kind attention to them: “I really like the way they turned out in my photographs, getting the attention they no longer receive during modern parades.” Wonderful.
Thanks for sharing Precious. I’ve seen beads thrown at some local parades but never understood it. Guess the origin may be with Mardi Gras.
Great post either way and nice pictures.
- Papa Joe
Probably, Papa Joe! Parades in other places besides NOLA now seem strange to me because no one’s throwing anything!
In parades I attend here up north, people usually throw candy. But no beads. But at least they’re throwing something.
What a lovely photoessay! I agree with Stef.
Thank you, Mo!
Great photo-essay. What is intriguing is that the random fall of the beads looks intentional, A secret message in Mardi Gras Hieroglyphics.
Love this – and thanks for stopping by a post I wrote quite a while ago!