The King Cake

The Mardi Gras or Carnival season officially begins on January 6th or the "Twelfth Night". This is also known to Christians as the "Epiphany." Epiphany comes from a Greek word that means "to show". Bethlehem is where Infant Jesus first showed himself to the world. As a symbol of this Holy Day, a tiny plastic baby is placed inside each King Cake. The King Cake tradition is thought to have been brought to New Orleans from France in 1870.

   A King Cake is an oval-shaped bakery delicacy, a cross between a coffee cake and a French pastry that is as rich in history as it is flavor. It's decorated in royal colors of PURPLE., which signifies "Justice". GREEN for "Faith" and GOLD for "Power". These colors were to resemble a jeweled crown honoring the Wise Men who visited the Christ Child on Epiphany. In the past such things as coins, beans, pecans, or peas were hidden inside each King Cake. Today, a tiny plastic baby is the common prize. At a party, the king Cake is sliced and served. Each person looks to see if their piece contains the "baby". If so, then that person is named "King" for a day and bound by custom to host the next party and provide the King Cake.

   Mardi Gras has a moveable date and may occur on any Tuesday from February 3rd to March 9th, and ends on the day before Ash Wednesday, falling 46 days before Easter.

   My thanks to Pam LeBlanc for sending me a King Cake. Below is a picture of the cake and the baby on the inside, which I, by chance, got on the very first piece that I sliced and ate.