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History of King Cakes
Epiphany, celebrated in European countries, marks the coming of the wise men
who brought gifts to the Christ Child. Epiphany is also called Little Christmas
on the Twelfth Night, and is celebrated twelve nights after Christmas. People
from all of the world celebrate Epiphany by exchanging gifts and feasting. A
very popular custom that is still celebrated is the making of the "King's Cake"
which represents the three kings who brought gifts. A plastic baby is baked
inside the King Cake, and the tradition is whoever receives the baby in their
piece of cake must buy the next King Cake or throw the next party. King Cakes
are made of a cinnamon filled dough in the shape of a hollow circle. The cake
is topped with a delicious glazed topping and then sprinkled with colored sugar.
The three colors of the sugar are Purple (representing Justice), Green
(representing Faith) and Gold (representing Power). Today the King Cakes are
baked with a wide assortment of fillings inside the cake. King Cake is the
preferred dessert and snack in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Hundreds of
thousands of King Cakes are eaten in New Orleans during the Carnival season.
Many are shipped throughout the U.S. for those displaced New Orleanians longing
for a taste of Mardi Gras. In fact, a Mardi Gras party wouldn't be a Mardi Gras
party without a King Cake.
You might be wondering, "Why on earth would a plastic baby be inside of a cake?"
Well, the baking of King Cakes is a tradition in New Orleans that begins on
King's Day, at the start of the Mardi Gras season. A tiny baby, just like the
ones you see here, is baked into the cake. The person whose piece of cake
contains the baby furnishes the King Cake for the next party (which are usually
held once a week on Sundays until Fat Tuesday.) However, when celebrating
Mardi Gras out of town, most people regard the person who 'got the baby' as the
King or Queen of the party being held. Either way, it is a tasty way to spend an
afternoon, and we promise you'll love it, too!
A new idea that has recently grown in popularity at children's parties is to
serve cupcakes decorated like regular kingcakes and put a baby in each one.
That way, every child will experience the thrill of finding the baby!
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