Answer: Krewes. Read more!
Mardi Gras is much more than a debaucherous party. The exchange of gifts in parades and parties binds New Orleans’ diverse communities together.Mardi Gras krewe members throw gifts to parade watchers. These gifts, given anonymously, create social bonds that knit together the entire community.were already forming as I held on to my oversized cowboy hat and made my way to the krewe’s meeting spot.
These parades are the drumbeat at the heart of Mardi Gras. As an ethnographic filmmaker, I have come to understand how Mardi Gras celebrants share a cultural thread with societies around the world, from Thai monks to Trobriand Islanders. They all depend on a gift economy.Today, most societies acquire things through a market economy in which people buy, sell, or trade goods and services. In a gift economy, people give items away without the explicit expectation of something in return.
Not all gift economies trade in prestige. In Thailand, Theravada Buddhist monks seek alms from believers, primarily in the form of food, and the givers aim to earn merit that will lead to a better life. In this case, the monks provide spiritual support for the community and, in return, the community provides them with the necessary sustenance.New Orleans has a complex racial and religious history. Historically, color lines were more blurred there than in other regions of the South.
The multicolored king cake is an iconic gift of the Mardi Gras season. Whoever receives the slice with the hidden baby has to host the next party, or at least buy the next cake.Gifting takes all forms, but food and drink are especially popular. The most iconic gift of the season may be the king cake, which is present at most Mardi Gras gatherings. The king cake is a sugary, cinnamon-roll creation, usually shaped into a ring and decorated in Mardi Gras purple, green, and gold.
Inside the local New Orleans’ Mardi Gras gift economy, krewe-specific throws come in the form of trinkets, toys, or medallions, the most special of which are given to locals who understand their value and will be more likely to save and cherish them. These handmade throws provide opportunities for social interaction, opening a door for conversations between people from the area who might not otherwise meet.
One of the most popular parades is the Krewe of Muses, an all-female group whose signature throws are upcycled shoes—often high heels—that krewe members elaborately bedazzle. They are the most coveted throw in all of Mardi Gras. The Muses also toss ceramic medallions, which are rarer than normal beads and adorned with fun, creative designs that incorporate the year and the krewe’s name.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
These opera singers throw a mean left hookThe Met, as the organization is simply called, has been in rehearsal for the company premiere on Monday of “Champion,” an opera by the Grammy-winning jazz...
Read more »
Brian Cox Tried to 'Throw People Off' by Appearing on 'Succession' SetThe actor said he showed up to the church where the series was filming funeral scenes.
Read more »
Northern Ireland dissidents throw molotov cocktails at police vehicles one day before Biden's visitDissident groups threw molotov cocktails at police vehicles during a parade in the Northern Ireland border city of Derry on Monday, according to police.
Read more »
Majority of Americans believe Trump did something illegal: POLLWith former President Donald Trump now formally charged on criminal charges, a majority of Americans (53%) believe he intentionally did something illegal.
Read more »
Trump attorney: Criticisms of judge’s family ‘were not something personal’An attorney for former President Donald Trump said Sunday that his client’s criticism of the judge who is presiding over his New York grand jury indictment was not meant to be personal.
Read more »
Majority believe Trump intentionally did something illegal: PollA majority of citizens believe former President Donald Trump intentionally did something illegal in the Manhattan DA's case regarding the alleged falsification of business records.
Read more »