Today, Friday January 6, is Three Kings Day or Epiphany, the kick off to Carnival season, and one delicious way this festival holiday is celebrated is with a symbolic King Cake. We have been lucky to receive a King Cake in past years from our PR colleagues and friends in New Orleans at Deveney Communications, and we truly appreciate the opportunity to spread the good word about New Orleans and our adventures there through this sinful and sweet indulgence.
Originally a European tradition, a King Cake is a sweet frosted ring cake, kind of like a big Danish or cinnamon roll, sometimes filled and always drizzled with a layer of icing. King cakes are always decorated with colored sugar or icing in the Mardi Gras colors of purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. Inside the King Cake is a hidden doll or bean representing the baby Jesus... and the custom for what happens to the person who discovers the hidden trinket in their cake depends on who gives you the cake, but we were told that if you get the baby in your piece, you not only get good luck, but you are designated the person to bring the King Cake to next year's party! Three Kings Day kicks off crazy, colorful and creative Mardi Gras season, and serves as a time sanctioned indulgence before the strict Catholic season of Lent. (I guess the idea is to party and get all your sins out there... funny how this custom is still carried out in so many cultures all over the world since Roman times!)
But back to the cake. In other countries, the King Cake is called Rosca de Reyes, Galette des Rois, Bolo Rei, Banitsa, and Vasilopita. At our house, we just call it a little slice of heaven delivered from good friends in New Orleans. If you've never been to this amazing city, click here to find out more - pics below.
Order your own shiny King Cake, find out more about Mardi Gras for families, and "Laissez les bon temps roule..." let the good times roll!
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| From a visit in 2007... love that New Orleans vibe! |
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