MardiGrasCoconuts.Com....The History of Zulu Coconuts

In 1906, the Tramps were holding parades in the back Streets of New Orleans. They followed no set routes, and catching the parade was hard. In 1915, heralded the first use of floats, constructed on a spring wagon, using dry good boxes. The float was decorated with palmetto leaves and moss and carried four Dukes along with the King. That humble beginning gave rise to the lavish floats we see in the Zulu parade today.

On September 20, 1916, in the notorial office of Gabriel Fernandez, the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club was incorporated. Twenty-two of the organization's officers and members signed the first official document.

The Geddes and Moss Funeral Home, located on Washington Avenue, played an integral part in Zulu's beginning, and has continued to do so throughout the years. The first official toast of King Zulu and his Queen is held at this establishment each year.

The Original Gold standard.....unchanged in 84 plus years

Of all the throws to rain down from the many floats in the parades during carnival, the Zulu coconut or "Golden Nugget" is the most sought after. It has also become known as a Mardi Gras Coconut. The earliest reference to the coconut appears to be about 1910 when the coconuts were given from the floats in their natural "hairy" state. The coconut were a very cheap alternative to the somewhat expensive glass beads, that were being imported from over seas for the other Krewes of the time. Approximately 12 years later, in the early 1920's there is a reference in the archives to Lloyd Lucus, "the sign painter," scraping and painting the coconuts. This, in all likelihood, was the forerunner to the beautifully decorated coconuts we see today. The standard coconut is the gold one with some decoration added in glitter. Other deviations of this are black, sliver, and other base colors. Most have the design of the black face that the Zulu's are noted for. The three eyes of the coconut is decorated to look as though it has a face, and that face is then dressed in Black face as the members are when they ride in the parades. Some people even give them hair and hats.

With the proliferation of lawsuits from people alleging injury from thrown coconuts, the organization was unable to get insurance coverage in 1987. So that year, the honored tradition was suspended. After much lobbying, the Louisiana Legislature passed SB188, aptly dubbed the "Coconut Bill," which excluded the coconut from liability for alleged injuries arising from the coconuts handed from the floats. On July 8, 1988, then-governor Edwards signed the bill into law.