Mardi Gras is known all over the world as the party to end all parties, and Mardi Gras beads are a traditional part of the festivities. Available in a wide spectrum of colors, such as purple, green, red, pink, gold, orange and black, these tiny little plastic trinkets have come to symbolize the very concept of a big blow-out party.

No matter where you go in the world, you can find Mardi Gras beads keeping the time-honored Mardi Gras tradition alive in places as diverse as Iceland, Argentina, Russia, Puerto Rico or Hong Kong. In fact, the beads have become a type of international symbol representing not only New Orleans and Mardi Gras, but the free-for-all, devil-may-care attitude that is associated with Carnival in New Orleans.

These days, the beads come in all the standard colors, plus custom stripes, polka dots, and other funky designs. There are even chrome reflective and glow-in-the-dark green Mardi Gras beads to be found on parade floats and at parties around the world.

Oddly enough, there are actually people in the world who collect Mardi Gras beads as a type of “trophy” from their partying experiences around the world. These individuals may have chains of beads from Brazil, Mexico, New York or San Francisco.

Collecting the strands of beads from different Carnival and parties is a way of remembering the good times, because when all is said and done, the beads are actually nothing more than keep sakes. They remind us of fun times in the past, and make us excited for parties and street carnivals to come in the future.

The tradition of “throwing the beads” during very Mardi Gras dates back to the early 1800s, and no one is exactly sure what the original intention behind throwing beads was. What is known is that it is a type of goodwill gesture, displaying the free and giving nature of New Orleans residents at the time.

But in modern times, the beads have come to represent something very different indeed. These days, the plastic bead necklaces are often tossed in the direction of attractive women, in exchange for baring their breasts in public. This particular twist is said to have started back in the 1970s, when large caravans of college students began driving across country to attend Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

However the “beads for breasts” tradition got started, it is clear that it has now turned into a permanent fixture during Mardi Gras week, and the concept has even spread to other parties and carnivals around the world.

Undoubtedly, this new sexy twist on the old tradition of throwing beads and bead necklaces during Carnaval has become an integral part of the modern day Mardi Gras festivities. And strangely enough, the beads themselves have come to represent sexual liberation, as well as a massive party.

For this reason, these days you are just as likely to find plastic bead necklaces of the Mardi Gras type at frat houses or bars and pubs around the world. In fact, the tradition of baring some skin in exchange for the necklaces has increased the popularity of the colorful little plastic beads in recent years.

To add a touch of Mardi Gras excitement to your next party, it’s easy to purchase boxes of beads and necklaces online. Whether you’re hosting a Super Bowl party, or the office Christmas party, Mardi Gras beads and necklaces will bring a little New Orleans revelry to your next event.