Now that the holiday season is coming to an end Mardi Gras is right around the corner which means Mardi Gras beads. Having never been to New Orleans where the biggest Mardi Gras party takes place and having never celebrated Mardi Gras I always wondered what it was and why Mardi Gras bead were such a big deal. In researching places on the internet to purchase Mardi Gras beads I decided to take a few moments and learn about Mardi Gras.
The celebration was brought to American in 1699 by French settlers and has its roots in Catholicism. The time between 12th Night, which occurs on January 5 and marks the end of the 12 Days of Christmas, and Ash Wednesday is known as Carnival. This is a time of parties and parades. Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is the last day of these festivities and is used as a day of overindulgence before Ash Wednesday marks the sober weeks of fasting that leads to Lent.
The traditional colors of purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power, dates back to 1872 when the Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff Alexanderovitch of Russia was grand marshal of the traditional parade and chose the colors of the House of Romanov.
The ever popular stings of beads that have come to almost symbolize the festival are the most popular item that is thrown from the parade routes by the 60 participating krewes, or groups, since the 1920s when the Rex Krewe threw out the first inexpensive beaded necklaces. Today it’s nothing for the krewes to spend between $800 and $2500 on beads and other Mardi Gras trinkets to distribute during the parades making Mardi Gras “throws” a multimillion dollar industry.
So, where does one find Mardi Gras beads on the net? A Google search turns up over 900,000 sites for Mardi Gras beads. So, where are the best places to buy them from? That depends on what you are looking for.
Oriental Trading Company is always popular for buying inexpensive gifts and party favors for every occasion. A search for Mardi Gras bring up 323 items including masks, crafts, various party favors and three pages of different styles of beads. The best buy is 144 24 inch necklaces for $9.95 in gold, green and purple. If you prefer something fancier such as necklaces adorned with a large disco ball bead, coin, square or star shaped beads they run between $4.95 and $8.95 for 48 necklaces. If you want to spend more money you can get a 500 necklace assortment of all the different styles they carry for $89.95. They offer several different shipping options, with standard rates, depending how quickly you want them delivered. (rating: ****)
Mardi Gras Outlet has one of the largest selections of beads in almost every color, size and shape starting at $2.50 for 48 necklaces for the smallest beads up to $7.00 for 6 necklaces for the largest beads. They offer a discount if bought by the case. They claim they offer fair and quick shipping, but I was unable to find any information on their shipping without first placing an order. I also want to note that they are already out of stock of many beads. (rating:*** ½)
Beads by the Dozen has nine pages of necklaces in various sizes, lengths, shapes and colors depending on what you want starting at $1.45 per dozen or $8.00 per gross up to $23.00 per dozen for the fancier varieties adorned with flags. Beads by the Dozen uses standard UPS shipping rates plus a $3.00 handling fee on all orders. (rating: ****)
Mardi Gras Party Beads also offers a large assortment of beads in various sizes, lengths and shapes. 33 inch necklaces of oval beads run $6.65 for 12 dozen up to $30.00 for 60 dozen. That is one thing that all the sites seem to have in common. The more beads you are willing to buy, the better deal you are going to get. They ship within 48 hours for all in stock items but do not list any shipping charges. Shipping is calculated only after you place an order. (rating: ****)
Mardi Gras Importers deals more in novelty type necklaces than the traditional Mardi Gras beads. Their necklaces come with various from cherries to light up “naughty” body parts. Average price is $3.00 per one necklace up to $180.00 per 10 dozen. One nice service that they do offer is they will make customized beads. They also use standard published UPS shipping times and prices. (rating: ***)
Mardi Gras Zone turned out to be my least favorite site because it was hard to read due to extra small print and required the most clicking to find what I was looking for. Standard throw beads run $2.00 a dozen to $60.00 for 50 dozen. Fancier beads start at $1.00 a necklace. They also offer light up and risqué beads starting at $4.95 a necklace. Also ships using standard UPS rates and times. (rating: *)
Parade Throws was one of the most expensive places that I found charging an average of $4.00 more than the other sites for the most popular beads in the most popular quantities. Also uses standard UPS shipping rates and times. (rating: ***)
Toomeys was another expensive site charging $14.00 more than most of the other sites for 60 dozen 33 inch necklaces. They do have a large selection of sizes, shapes, lengths and colors, maybe even the largest selection of all the sites. UPS ground and air shipping available. (rating: ***)
Mardi Gras Trading carries both throw beads and specialty beads at some of the lowest prices. 33 inch throw beads are $25.00 for 60 dozen. They offer their specialty beads, including the adult oriented ones starting at $1.99 a necklace up to $149.99 for a case. They also use standard UPS ground unless you request faster delivery. (rating: *****)
Mardi Gras Parade Beads Mainly deals in specialty beads starting at $28.00 for 6 necklaces. I didn’t see the standard throw beads that are the Mardi Gras staple. They also promote their Mardi Gras boas above all else on the site. You have to call to place your order, there is no way to do it from their site, and shipping information is not listed. (rating:*)
