The oldest krewe, the Krewe of Comus , was founded in 1857 by men who feared the outrageous antics of Mardi Gras would lead to the holiday being outlawed. They hoped that secret societies could keep the celebrations alive. In 1872 the Russian grand duke Alexis Romanoff visited New Orleans at Mardi Gras. Naming kings and queens at Mardi Gras balls has been a tradition of the krewes ever since. Can The millions of colorful beaded necklaces thrown from floats are the most visible symbols and souvenirs of Mardi Gras.
People do outrageous things to catch the most throws.
Some dress as priests, hoping the many Catholics on the floats will shower them with goodies. Others dress their children in eye-catching costumes and seat them, holding baskets to catch the loot, on ladders that tower over the crowds. Others give up on the costume ploy altogether, finding that taking clothes off can be the quickest attention-getter. The first crossword puzzle was printed in the Sunday New York World on Dec. 21, 1913.