Carnival refers to the season before Mardi Gras Day. Mardi Gras Day always falls on the Tuesday that is 46 days before Easter. It is always the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the start of Lent. It begins officially on Jan. 6, which is known as Twelfth Night or Kings' Day, so named because it falls 12 days after Christmas on the day the Wise Men are said to have reached Bethlehem.

Every parade has a theme, usually borrowed from mythology, history or Hollywood. Most parades have kings and queens and dukes and duchesses, prince, princess, etc. All parade riders throw trinkets - beads, doubloons, small toys, candy - from the floats to the crowds. These are called "throws” Parades consist of anywhere from 10 to 40 floats carrying krewe members, marching bands, dance groups, and costumed characters. Some parades are small and suburban, others downtown and lavish.

Krewe: A term applied to the people who belong to your “Club” or parade. Your membership dues pay for your costumes, throws, and float.

Floats: Any decorated, movable platform for carrying Carnival maskers.

Costumes and masks are a long time tradition on Mardi Gras Day. People spend all year making costumes that glorify heroes, ridicule public figures, or poke fun at customs, traditions, or current events. Masking is permitted only on Mardi Gras Day, and masks must be removed at dark.

The colors of Carnival are purple, green and gold, chosen in 1872 by that year's Rex. The 1892 Rex parade gave the official colors meaning Purple for justice Green for faith Gold for power.

Dances or Balls are held in Hotels and Centers. Kings, Queens and their Court are presented to the members of the Krewe.

Bouef Gras: The fatted ox or bull that has, since the Middle Ages, been a part of pre-Lenten celebrations. It symbolizes the last meat eaten before Lent. Giant paper-mache ox on a float that is a traditional part of the parade today Bouef Gras

Bouef Gras: The fatted ox or Bull

Doubloons: Silver-dollar sized aluminum coins minted for and given out by Carnival Krewe. Rex threw the first one from a float in They come in different colors and are stamped with the krewe’s emblem and their theme for the year.

King Cake: A sweet roll-like cake made in a ring. It contains a plastic doll. The person who finds the doll in his or her piece of cake must provide the king cake on the next occasion or they are the King or Queen of the party. King's Cake" which represents the three kings who brought gifts. King Cakes are made of a cinnamon-filled dough in the shape of a hollow circle. The cake is topped with a delicious glazed topping and then sprinkled with colored sugar.

Mardi Gras Indians: African-American marching groups that parade on Mardi Gras. They wear elaborate feathered costumes. The Wild Magnolias and the Golden Eagles are among the best known.

Zulu is New Orleans' first and best-known African-American Carnival organization, formally known as the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club. The club was founded in 1909 and Zulu began to parade in 1916 Characters: King Zulu, Big Shot and the Witch Doctor King Zulu carries a banana stalk and wears a lard can on his head. The prize of the Zulu parade is a painted coconut; they used to be thrown from the floats but are now handed out because of high liability insurance costs due to the risk of injury to spectators.

Rex: Referred to only as "Rex," or as "Rex, king of Carnival," He toasts his queen at the parade on St. Charles Avenue.

Throws: Trinkets pitched from a parade float. They include doubloons, beads, cups and plastic toys. “ Throw me something, Mister ”

1.Make eye contact!!! 2.Be willing to trade. 3. Be ready with your foot when that shower of doubloons hits the ground. 4. Stand close by any cute kids, nuns, soldiers, or young babes. 5. For night parades stand in a lighted area or wear blinky beads. 6. Keep a minimum of beads around your neck. Stash that fresh loot in your bead bag and look kinda sad and pathetic at your complete lack of success. Remember that just the three super krewes are gonna throw 1.5 million cups, 2.5 million doubloons, and 200,000 gross of beads and you deserve your share, get in there and work for it.