Mardi Gras beads have become a bigger and bigger thing over the years. Its believed that Mardi Gras parades began in New Oreleans in the 1830s. In the 1800s inexpensive necklaces made of glass beads were made and tossed into the crowds of the carnival. Then later changed out for the plastic small beaded necklaces that we have today. The beads were a big hit the the tourist and residents there to visit Mardi Gras. By the 1900s over 100,000 people traveled to participate in the event and to get there own Mardi Gras beads.
But over the years there have been multiple things that they pass out amoungst the crowd. Such ass plastic cups, toys, Freibes, figurines, and doubloons. In the 1970s there was a group called the "Zulu" they handed out coconuts to the crowds during the parades. But it didnt stay very long because of the fear of injury if the coconuts were tossed into the crowd. But the Zulu group fought back claiming that there was no liability for the beads being thrown into the crowds. But in 1988, Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards signed a "coconute bill" into law it stated that coconuts could be handed out during Mardi Gras. Homepage