by 
The Curious Bag
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Mardi Gras beads are the festival's most popular trinkets, and are thrown during the many parades. The beads are frequently long necklaces in the traditional colors of Mardi Gras--purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power).
History
Beads, or throws, made their debut in the 1920s. Before the 1960s, they were made of glass and imported primarily from Czechoslovakia and Japan. Today, the majority of the beads are imported from China.
Misconceptions
The most widespread misconception surrounding the beads is that you must bear naked flesh in order to receive strands. This myth is most likely the result of the practice being popularized in the French Quarter area of New Orleans during the festival.
Traditions
According to John Roach, writing in National Geographic, shouting the famous phrase, "throw me something, mister," ensures that a parade goer will not walk away empty-handed.
Types
Today, beads are most often made from plastic, tin, or other lightweight materials. They sometimes include coins, called doubloons, which feature the logos of the parade's host or the overall theme of that year's celebration.
Popularity
Strands of Mardi Gras beads twisted into animal shapes and extra-long necklaces with oversize beads are especially popular.
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