Fun Facts about Mardi Gras:

• Each year 750,000 King Cakes are sold in New Orleans, while 50,000 more are shipped to other states.
• The celebration brings in $840 million in revenues for New Orleans alone.
• The official colors of Mardi Gras: purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power) were picked in 1872, but weren't given their meanings until 1892.
• The first "throw" took place in 1871, when someone dressed as Santa Claus handed out gifts to the crowd from a float in the Twelfth Night Revelers parade.