
What I didn’t know, and was tremendously thrilled to discover, was that, while in New Orleans the iconic green, gold, and purple beads are thrown from Mardi Gras parade floats, in Mobile toys, candy, and the city’s signature MoonPies are tossed into the eagerly awaiting crowds instead.
That’s right. Moon. Pies. Which begs the question we’re all really thinking but our Southern geniality prevents us from expressing: who in their right mind would rather have plastic beads than the divine creation that is two round graham crackers filled with marshmallow and dipped in chocolate?
I’m not here to answer that question, because frankly I don’t care to know those people. But while we’re on the subject I find it more than worthy of mention that since 2007 Mobile has hosted an annual “MoonPie Over Mobile” celebration on New Year’s Eve. Among many activities and attractions this event culminates with the MoonPie Drop, in which a bright 600 pound electric MoonPie is dropped from a 34-story building at midnight to ring in the New Year.
Your move, King Cake.
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/02/16/fact.check.mardi.gras/
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/history-mardi-gras-mobile-alabama-21559.html
http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1437
http://meredith.worldnow.com/story/27644030/mobile-ready-for-7th-moonpie-drop
