Mask have been a part of Mardi Gras since the early 1700s. But for some reason in the 1780s to 1827 the mask were forbidden during the celebrations. The original purpose of Mardi Gras mask was to protect the identiy of revelers. Revelers are men when went door to door to sing, dance and beg for offerings to make gumbo. The traditional colors for a Mardi Gras mask contain three colors: gold, green and purple. The colors meaning were revealed in 1892: gold signifies power, green equals faith and purple represents justics.
While parades, king cakes, and beads are all essential parts of Mardi Gras, one of the most iconic symbols of the holiday is a Mardi Gras Mask. During the Carnival, the mask allows maskers to hide their identity and display themselves as whoever, or whatever they desire. Carnival goers are able to design elaborate masks and costumes to bring their alter egos to life. Float riding maskers spend weeks or even months perfecting their story through the arrangements of colors, decorations, and symbols. It is also illegal to mount on a parade float without a mask on Mardi Gras. Homepage