Feb 13, 2013

Perhaps best known today for its drinking and “beads for breasts” activities, the Mardi Gras parade began earlier today around the French Quarter in New Orleans. French for “fat Tuesday,” Mardi Gras celebrates the last night of gluttonous celebration before the ritual fasting begins on the Christian holiday Ash Wednesday.

So far this year, Super Bowl Champions Ed Reed and Jacoby Jones were scene walking with the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club. Also this past weekend, parades (perhaps more child-friendly?) were also held in New Orleans that included a bead-throwing Kelly Clarkson two days before winning the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album.

: A float in the Rex parade turns on to Canal Street to large crowds with out outstretched arms on Mardi Gras Day. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: A Mardi Gras reveler dangles a pair of beads off of a balcony on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: A float in the Krewe of Zulu parade turns on to Canal Street to large crowds with out outstretched arms on Mardi Gras Day. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: Lorraine Summers of New Orleans is dressed as Medusa on Mardi Gras Day in the French Quarter. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: Riders in the Krewe of Zulu parade toss beads to the crowd below on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: A float in the Krewe of Zulu parade makes it way down St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: A rider in the Krewe of Zulu parade dances as his float rolls down Canal Street in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: Revelers with out stretched hands plead for throws from riders in the Krewe of Zulu parade on Mardi Gras Day. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: A float in the Krewe of Zulu parade turns on to Canal Street to large crowds with out outstretched arms on Mardi Gras Day. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: Kamil del Toro is dressed as a Day of the Dead sugar skull for Mardi Gras in the French Quarter. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: Riders in the Krewe of Zulu parade toss beads to the crowd below on Canal Street in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: A parade goer catches a pair of beads tossed from a float in the Krewe of Zulu parade on Mardi Gras Day. (Costanza/Getty Images)

: The Boeuf Gras float in the Rex parade rolls down St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: Revelers plead with out stretched arms for throws from riders in the Rex Parade in Canal Street on Mardi Gras Day. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: A float is seen in the parade down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana February 12, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Revelers pose for pictures in the French Quarter on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana February 12, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Revelers parade through the French Quarter on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana February 12, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Rex, King of Carnival waves to his subjects as he parades down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana February 12, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: People dance around a pole in the French Quarter on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana February 12, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Crowds flood Bourbon Street on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana February 12, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Revelers throw beads off The Royal Sonesta Hotel balcony on to Bourbon Street on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana February 12, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Members of the Mondo Kayo Social and Marching Club parade down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana February 12, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Members of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club parade down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana February 12, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens Ed Reed walks with Members of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club as they parade down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana February 12, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Members of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club parade down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana February 12, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Members of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club parade down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana February 12, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones walks with Members of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club as they parade down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana February 12, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Members of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club parade down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana February 12, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Members of the Mondo Kayo Social and Marching Club parade down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana February 12, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Skeleton Krewe member Jaw Bone takes off his skull while taking a break on Mardi Gras Day near Jackson Square in the French Quarter February 12, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: Members of the Krewe of Bikus roll down Chartres Street on Mardi Gras Day in French Quarter February 12, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: Brody Bell, 6, of New Orleans, runs across Pierre Antoine Alley dressed as a bald eagle skeleton for Mardi Gras Day February 12, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was parading with his parents who are members of a Skeleton krewe. (Rusty Costanza/Getty Images)

: Members of the Krewe of Okeanos parade down St. Charles Avenue during the weekend before Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana February 10, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Members of the Pussyfooters Marching Club parade along with the Krewe of Toath along St. Charles Avenue during the weekend before Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana February 10, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Members of the Pussyfooters Marching Club parade along with the Krewe of Toath along St. Charles Avenue during the weekend before Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana February 10, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Julie Keller (L) and Lauren Hammond (R), wearing unicorn masks, scream for beads as members of the Krewe of Mid-City parade down St. Charles Avenue during the weekend before Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana February 10, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Lauren Whiddon (bottom) and Mari Wisdom dance on St. Charles Avenue as they wait for the Krewe of Bacchus parade in New Orleans, Louisiana February 10, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Actor Bailey reigns as King of Bacchus as members of the Krewe of Bacchus parade down St. Charles Avenue during the weekend before Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana February 10, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Members of the Krewe of Endymion parade down Orleans Avenue during the weekend before Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana February 9, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Singer Kelly Clarkson throws beads as she and members of the Krewe of Endymion parade down Orleans Avenue during the weekend before Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana February 9, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: Members of the Krewe of Endymion parade down Orleans Avenue during the weekend before Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana February 9, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: A woman with the members of the Krewe of Endymion parades down Orleans Avenue during the weekend before Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana February 9, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

: A flambeau, or flame bearer, walks along the street as members of the Krewe of Endymion parade down Orleans Avenue during the weekend before Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana February 9, 2013. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

Mardi Gras celebrations fling through New Orleans

Leave a Reply Cancel