Throw me somethin’ mister ... Enc BUTCHER The Corer or allitle more than two weeks out ofthe year, we all become beggars. And for ‘what? Plastic beads and aluminum dou: bloons. Trinkets of litle monetary value ‘but lots of symbolic meaning. Walking down the street with a Jong pearl bead wrapped around your neck is immaculate, It is an obvious sign that one of those masked revelers riding on the highly decorated flatbed trucks thought highly enough of you to give one of the infamous long beads away. Actually, these objects of many parade-goers! affection only cost about 5 cents apiece, with the ‘most expensive falling in the $4 or $5 range. Of course, 2 $5 bead will not be thrown into the crowd ~ they are the “extra special” beads, given to family, friends or anyone willing to do'some- thing outrageous enough to get it. ‘And it seems like the longer they are, the cra- ier people get for them. Men and’ women ‘exposing body parts for a long bead is cour ‘mon practice at today’s Mardi Gras parades, par- ticularly in New Orleans. ‘They are the prize ofall prizes during Mardi Gras. Like a general's stripes, they symbolize power — the power of persuasion. The rule books are thrown out of the window; it's no holds barred, cuthroat, bareall- mayhem, Kicking, punching and stepping on fingers are just a few of the methods sometimes used — though strongly discouraged — to gain an advantage in the scramble for long bead supremacy. HOW IT STARTED Here is an informal timeline on the history of Mardi Gras in New Orleans from wnr.nola.com: 1700s ~ New Orleans, under French rule, starts celebrating with pre-Lenten balls. Late 1700s ~ Spain takes over the Louisiana territory and bans the celebrations, 1803 - The United States assumes owner- ship of New Orleans as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The ban continues. 1823 The United States reinstates pre Revelers reach for throws from float rider in last year’s Krewe of Hercules parade in Houma, 1916 ~ Zulu, which has been poking informal fun at Rex for aimost a decade, is oficially incor- porated. The first king rules with a banana stalk for a scepter and a lard can for a crown, Rex arrives atthe city via steamboat, Zulu via oyster logger. 11934 ~ Alla becomes the first group to parade on the Westbank. 1941 - The Krewe of Venus becomes the first parade to have allfemale riders. Crowds hhurl refuse at the maskers on board, 1942-45 ~ Mardi Gras is canceled during World War I parade riding on a large Arabian horse. “Apparently, when the Krewe of Houmas hhad their first parade, they asked Duplantis to lead the parade riding on his Arabian horse," said Randall Bethancourt, Houma attorney and member of the Krewe of ‘Terreanians. “He's considered by many to be the father of Mardi Gras in Terrebonne Parish.” Hiis parade often included. decorated sugar cane wagons and the floats would sometimes even feature live cattle. Though not an organized krewe, the parade later TRINKETS “The origin ofall Mardi Gras throws, new dnd old, is flour. Pagans used to show appreciation to their gods by throwing flour into the fields. ‘The Romans also borrowed this ritualistic prac- tice, to which they added masking, feasting and aiving themselves up to Bacchus (god of wine) and Venus (goddess of beauty). ‘New Orleans’ Twelfth Nighi, Revelers were throwing a variety of trinkets to crowds in the carly 1870s, BBy the time Mardi Gras had reached Houma, ‘Mardi Gras throws had evolved tremendously.