Mardi Gras throws are strings of beads, doubloons, cups, and other trinkets passed out or thrown from the floats in the New Orleans Mardi Gras parades to spectators lining the streets. The gaudy plastic jewelry, toys, and other mementos [are] tossed to the crowds from parading floats. Mardi Gras celebrations in other Gulf Coast cities, such as Mobile and Lafayette, have adopted the custom.