The Tradition of King Cakes

The Mardi Gras season offically begins on the Twelfth Night of Christmas, or January 6th, known to Christians as the Epiphany, or Little Christmas. Since the third century, the Epiphany has been observed as the day the Three Wise Men finally found the infant Jesus. King Cakes; therefore, were initiated to celebrate this holy day and a small baby doll is placed in each cake as a symbol of "Finding the Baby Jesus."

King Cakes are oval shaped and decorated in carnical colors of green, yellow, and purple. As the cake is cut, each person looks to see if his piece contains the small baby. The person who finds the baby brings the King Cake to the next celebration.

Start this tradition in your home, class, or office. No Mardi Gras season is complete without a King Cake from Meche's Donut King. King Cake season ends on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.

--from the King Cake box

While writing this, I realized how I grew up in such a Christian based culture. I always knew what King Cake and Mardi Gras symbolized, but it just seemed so much a part of 'the way things were', that I never questioned my taking part in all of the festivities, despite being Jewish. The Mardi Gras celebration is such a part of the culture in southern Louisiana; I'm so glad I got to inherit some of that richness. If you have the chance, go down there some year and experience it...and don't just go to New Orleans. Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a spectacle and it's amazing to see, but the uncommercialized rural areas are even more fantastic. You get to chase a chicken around in costumes; you see policemen and other public officials running around like crazy-men; and the beads...you get SO many of them...