Mardi Gras throws are strings of beads, doubloons, cups, and other trinkets passed out or thrown from the floats in the New Orleans Mardi Gras parades to spectators lining the streets. The "gaudy" plastic jewelry, toys, and other mementos (are) tossed to the crowds from parading floats". Mardi Gras celebrations in other Gulf Coast cities, such as Mobile and Lafayette, have adopted the custom. "The goodies, or 'throws,' consist of necklaces of plastic beads, coins called doubloons, which are stamped with krewes' logos, parade themes and the year, plus an array of plastic cups and toys such as Frisbees or figurines". The cups that are used as throws are sometimes referred to as New Orleans dinnerware.
Spectators have traditionally shouted to the krewe members, "Throw me something, mister!", a phrase that is iconic in New Orleans' Mardi Gras street argot. Just as iconic is a request for women to expose their breasts as an incentive to receive the best throws.
Some krewes have specialty throws, for example the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club hand painted coconut or the Krewe of Muses shoes and mirrors.
Famous quotes containing the word throws:
“The good lawyer is not the man who has an eye to every side and angle of contingency, and qualifies all his qualifications, but who throws himself on your part so heartily, that he can get you out of a scrape.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)