We all know that south Alabama is the originator and home of Mardi Gras. We are familiar with the throwing of beads from the masked riders on the float. But the tradition of throwing a Moon Pie also started here and has become a sweet southern tradition.

In the early 1950's there was a tradition of throwing boxes of Cracker Jacks, which were very inexpensive in the day. The boxes were found the be dangerous if thrown hard enough or a corner of the box hit someone.

In 1974 the  “Maids of Mirth” are the first known krewe to use moon pies as an alternative to the recently banned boxes of cracker jacks. Soon other krewes were following the action as the throw caught on.

The Chattanooga Bakery began making moon pies in 1916. They first came in graham cracker cookies with a marshmallow center. Now, the famed cookies come in chocolate, banana, coconut, orange and vanilla.

Mardi Gras pies are smaller than the original pies and come in a silver wrapper, often with an organization’s emblem on the wrapper. Moon Pies also come in various flavors.

Moon Pie is a trade marked name of the Chattanooga bakery in Tennessee. These are still wrapped in it’s colorful package. That bakery still put out the original moon pies which are still ordered by some. There are, however, other companies out there that sell other styles and brands of moon pies to the krewes by, literally, the ton.

Related Article:  Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade

As the season is upon us, don't forget to reach out and catch one of the Moon Pies, then taste a Mardi Gras tradition!