mardi gras???

hi friends!
i'm from italy and i've got a little question for you...
when i watch mtv programs like "room raiders", i often hear they name "mardi gras beads"... but i don't know what are they for... they often don't like them cos they say they are for girls who want to expose themselves and show off... i own a necklace which is really very similar, but i've never thought about its meaning...
can you help me finding out?
thank ya very much!

Didjerigirl, Mardi Gras beads are given out during Mardi Gras, obviously, usually in New Orleans, although they can be given out whenever there is a Mardi Gras celebration. Usually, they're given out when a woman displays her breasts or whatever is the requested "donation" for the beads. If one owns Mardi Gras beads, it indicates that the wearer has fulfilled her obligation. Hope this helps.

when i was down south this last winter i experianced mardi gras. i got tons of beads and did not see any breast. they can be given for that reason, but mostly they are thrown off of floats for the crowds of people. mardi gras happens everywhere along the gulf not just in new orleans,but they are the biggest. some people keep really exspensive or crazy beads for speacial favors perhaps showing your breast, i got some for picking up some guys beer after it fell off the float. people who have never been are only going to tell you what they hear, but really all they are is cheap plastic beads, and if a person wants to degrade themselves for cheap plastic beads so be it. right or wrong it does happen just not everywhere all the time.the locals dont do it, usally its the dumb tourist being wild and drunk.

oh thank you very very much!