How is Mardi Gras celebrated?
Mardi Gras is essentially the last and most debauched day of the carnival and parade season. The most massive parade of the year is held through the streets of the city on this day, and the excitement in the air is palpable. New Orleans is famous for the Mardi Gras Parade. Performers pass by on their floats, and they throw ‘throws’ like beads, stuffed animals, and many other knick-knacks, into the crowd. Many children come with plastic bags to collect everything they can get their hands on. The most popular throws for adults are beads, and in order to get performers to throw beads in their direction, many people in the crowd flash the performers. While of course it is not compulsory to flash in order to get a throw, flashing certain increases your odds of getting a throw. Both men and women flash. However, Mardi Gras is essentially a family parade, and flashing only takes place when the parade passes by the notorious French Quarter. Children are not taken to the French Quarter, as here
