The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

MARDI GRAS SOUVENIERS

ONE 8 X 10 ENVELOPE CONTAINING BEADS, DOUBLOONS, AND BACCHUS BOGUS,
A RECENT SOUVENIER FROM THE KREWE OF BACCHUS; SQ731458-2

Submitter comment: SOUVENIRS AND FAVORS USED AT THE MARDI GRAS SELDOM HAVE ANY
IDENTIFICATION WITH THE EVENT OR THE CITY. _THEY ARE USUALLY
COSTUME JEWELERY THAT IS AVAILABLE THROUGH ANY NOVELTY OR DIME
STORE. SIX LOCAL WHOLESALERS WILL SELL THIS MERCHANDISE BY THE
GROSS IF YOU INSIST.
BUT DO NOT BECOME ANGRY WHEN YOU DISCOVER YOU COULD
HAVE BOUGHT THE SAME ITEM IN YOUR HOME TOWN. DURING MARDI GRAS TIME
YOU WILL OFTEN SEE ELEGANT LADIES STUMP, PUSH, OR FIGHT WITH
A GROUP OF SMALL BOYS FOR A WORTHLESS GLASS BEAD NECKLACE THROWN FROM
A FLOAT. IF THE INCIDENT ABOUT THE SCRAMBLE FOR BEADS SEEMS SILLY,
YOU SHOULD SEE THE PEOPLE FIGHT AND I DO MEAN FIGHT FOR DOUBLOONS.
THESE DOUBLOONS ARE SOUVENIER COINS MADE ESPECIALLY FOR EACH KREWE
YEAR. THEY ARE NOW BECOMING COLLECTORS' ITEMS, ESPECIALLY THE REX
DOUBLOONS.
SO MANY BATTLES HAVE BEEN FOUGHT ON CANAL STREET ON MARDI GRAS,
THAT YOU JUST WOULD NOT BELIEVE IT. BROKEN FINGERS, JAWS, AND HEADS
ARE ALL PART OF THE QUEST FOR THE ULTIMATE SOUVENIERS. WHY, I DO NOT
KNOW. I GUESS IT IS THE SPRIT OF MARDI GRAS.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

Date learned: 02-11-1975