Yes I grew up with Madi Gras bein an import Holiday. Here is a story about the colors :
GREEN – stands for Faith
PURPLE – stands for Justice
GOLD – stands for Power
“Madi Colors comes from a Russian Grand Duke Alexi Aexandrovich Romanov. He was living in Louisiana for Madi Gras in 1872 when he suggested the colors. That year Rex decreed that the three colors officially belong to Madi Grss.” This fact about Madi Gras can be found on the web site of Cajun Radio (1470 am & 1290 am) Lake Charles /Jennings, Loyisiana.
My mother would help design Madi Gras floats and Ball Growns. Her designs where so colorful and beautiful. A ball gown would be designed around the theme of the ball. It would take days to put all the sequins on the dress. So much family fun. Did I mention I have 3 younger sisters? We would spend hours together gluing sequins on the ball grown with a 3 feet train.
We where so proud to help mother and her lady friends. The adults made the floats. What joy it was to ride high on a float and throw beads at people.
Sha, it is the only day you can throw things at people and it is legal.
May your gumbo pot stay full. 
Laisser les Bon temp Rouler Sha
cajunbayoubelles 
I really enjoyed your story about how the colours were chosen for Mardi Gras Darlene! Nice blog. Keep up the good posts. They are fun to read!
Thanks .