Twelfth Night and King Cake

January 6th marks the beginning of Mardi Gras in New Orleans.  Also called Epiphany in some religions, this is the day that Christmas decorations are traditionally taken down.  In New Orleans, it's the day that Mardi Gras decorations officially go up. 

Starting January 6th, you are officially allowed to wear green, purple and gold (the colors of Mardi Gras) and saying Happy Mardi Gras to everyone you encounter.  On this evening in New Orleans, the Phunny Phorty Phellows ride the street car up and down St Charles announcing the beginning of Mardi Gras while down in the French Quarter the Joan of Arc parade marches through (celebrating her birthday as well as Twelfth Night.  

King cakes have been around for ages.  A gold or silver bean was baked into the cake and eligible men from the entire village were given a piece.  Whomever received the bean was the King of "Misrule" for the Twelfth Night Celebration.  Brought to New Orleans in the late 1800s, after the first year, the gold bean was lost (not surprisingly).  

The king cake has traditionally been a combination of coffee cake and French pastry that is then covered in frosting and purple, green and gold sprinkles.  Now, the king cake is an oval shaped cake that can be stuffed with cream cheese, strawberry, apple or anything else you can possibly think of.  A tiny plastic baby is placed in the cake and whomever gets the baby in their piece, hosts the next party and brings the next cake.  Or if you're like us, you'll automatically get the baby since you'll probably eat the entire king cake.

Happy Twelfth Night and Happy King Cake Eating, y'all!