The Symbolism of Mardi Gras

     It was in 1872 that this trio purple, green, and gold became the official color of the Mardi Gras celebration. The accepted story behind the original selection of these colors originates from 1872 when a group of local businessmen decided that the Mardi Gras parade was so grand that it warranted a king. This King of Carnival became known as “Rex”. The Rex would lead the Mardi Gras parade through New Orleans and act as the official Monarch of Merriment.
     The first coronation of Rex went to the Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff of Russia who happened to be visiting New Orleans that year.  It is said that the Grand Duke came to the city in pursuit of an actress named Lydia Thompson. During his stay, he was given the honor of selecting the official Mardi Gras colors by the Krewe of Rex.  He chose the rich colors of purple, green, and gold. No one knows for certain why he selected these colors. It has been speculated that he chose them because they reflect a royal tone. He would later choose these same colors for his family crest- the Royal House of Romanoff.
     It would be twenty years before meaning would be attached to the vibrant colors of Mardi Gras. Each year the Rex parade would take on a new theme. In 1892 the parade theme was “The Symbolism of Color.” It was then that the colors received their significance. Purple represented justice, green represented faith, and gold represented power.

From: Colortude.com, 2013.

Pictured are beads from the 2006 Mardi Gras parades held in New Orleans and Gretna, Louisiana. Also pictured is an original Krewe Zulu coconut ... tossed to the revelers on Tuesday morning, February 2012. A Mardi Gras treasure. Proud to own it.