In Mobile Mardi Gras, the Moon Pie became a staple throw after 1956.
A Moon Pie is a round snack made from graham crackers, marshmallow filling, and a coating or layer of chocolate, banana, or other flavor. The Chattanooga Bakery introduced the product in 1917, but its Mardi Gras identity developed decades later in Mobile, Alabama.
In 1956, Mobile parade participants began throwing Moon Pies from floats into the crowd. The snack was inexpensive, easy to catch, and large enough to stand out among parade giveaways. It joined the broader Mardi Gras tradition of “throws,” which can include beads, cups, doubloons, candy, and toys.
Moon Pies remain especially associated with Mobile and other Gulf Coast celebrations. They are sometimes confused with Little Debbie snack cakes such as Swiss Rolls or Oatmeal Creme Pies, but a Moon Pie’s defining combination is its marshmallow center between graham layers.