Glass Mardi Gras Beads

The first Mardi Gras beadhistory of Czechoslovokian glass Mardi Gras beads begins in the 1920's with strands of glass beads made primarily in Czechoslovakia. The Czech glass Mardi Gras beads were very popular throws during carnival season, but they didn't last long because the cost of production was too high. The market then shifted to Japan where the much cheaper "bugle bead", a glass bead in a tubular shape, was the popular choice.

Today, the overwhelming majority of beads thrown during Mardi Gras are plastic beads from China. However, parade goers might still catch a strand or two of glass beads...if they are lucky. These sought after throws are colorful strands of glass beads made in India.