- Prior to 1827, wearing masks at Mardi Gras was limited. Laws prevented slaves and Native Americans from wearing masks in public. In some cases, masks were completely outlawed during this time, regardless of who was masked. From 1827 to 1830, Masks were predominately worn at parties or balls called masquerades sponsored by the Krewes. After 1830, all Mardi Gras party goers were allowed, and in some cases encouraged, to wear masks for parades, street parties and masquerades.
- Traditionally, Mardi Gras masks were used to protect the identity of revelers who would go from house to house to beg for food. These men were from all classes, from poor peasants to wealthy landowners. The food they gathered was used to make a Mardi Gras dinner for the town. As time has progressed, Mardi Gras masks have become more symbolic than functional. Begging for food to use for a communal dinner is a tradition no longer followed, except in a few small cities. Today, these masks are simply a way for revelers to get into the Mardi Gras spirit.
- At certain times during the Mardi Gras season, which lasts from February 2 until Mardi Gras each year, revelers may be prohibited from wearing masks in public. Usually, this is only done if there has been a security breech or threat made against revelers. This will always be announced by the local police force. For example, the New Orleans police department puts alerts out on local television stations. Even during these periods, certain Krewe members and other select people may be exempt from the prohibition.
- Mardi Gras masks usually feature the Mardi Gras colors: purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power. The masks can cover either the entire face or just the upper portion of the face. Eye-holes are always cut out so the reveler can still see. Elastic bands hold on some masks. Others are mounted on long thin poles, similar to skewers. These must be held in place by the reveler. Most Mardi Gras masks feature happy faces, usually smiling or laughing. However, some masks are sad faces, others have one side of a happy face and the other side a sad face.
- For some Mardi Gras Krewes, the king and queen of the year are kept a secret until the Krewe ball. In this case, everyone has to wear a mask. Before the ball, the 12 candidates for queen gather in a room. Each is given a piece of King Cake. Inside each piece of King Cake is a bean. There are 11 silver beans and one gold bean. After choosing the pieces of King Cake, each girl takes it back home. Once there, they delve into the piece of cake alone. The girl with the gold bean is the queen, and those with silver are her attendants or court. The same process is followed for the men, except there is only one bean in the entire cake. It is a red bean. The man who has the piece containing it is king. All the beans have a special Krewe marking so that none of them can be replicated. Once at the ball, the masked Krewe members who have beans present them and are crowned according to the beans.
