To think that plastic party beads could be such a commodity is unfathomable to the Mardi Gras-less. There are beads with flashing lights, and beads of everything from motorcycles and musical instruments to margaritas. Joan, a store owner I spoke with, said that although these beads are for sale all year around, they have to greatly increase their stock the few weeks prior to Mardi Gras and order abundant supplies to last through the finale. To supplement the bead stores there are also bead carts littering the streets. Most of these venders are people from different states who have made a tradition of setting up shop for the festivities and then returning to life at their businesses at home.
Beads teamed with masks and costumes make for quite a spectacle.
One could sit for hours simply observing the scenery and reveling in the diversity. One can easily distinguish the origins of different groups simply based on their style of dress and mannerisms, yet there is one sole purpose for which these people have all convened - the sake of Mardi Gras. My plane neighbor on the way there was flying in from upstate New York, to return home and spend the holiday with family and friends. Whether it be the oysters and jazz music or the parades and beads that peak your interest in Mardi Gras, it can be said that there is something for everyone and you are sure to return with a greater appreciation of culture, the South, and this world-renowned episode known as Mardi Gras.