History of Mardi Gras and the King
Cake
An observer once said that New Orleanians are either having a party,
recuperating from a party, or planning a party. The biggest and best party of
all and the city's most famous celebration is Mardi Gras, "the greatest free
show on earth." Mardi Gras dates back to 1837 when the first street parade took
place.
The carnival season begins January 6th (12 days after Christmas) on Twelfth
Night with the first of nearly 100 private masked balls. The dazzling Mardi
Gras parades feature marching bands and elaborate paper mache floats with
maskers tossing trinkets, beads and doubloons to the crowds.
On Mardi Gras Day, the day before Ash Wednesday, the largest and longest parades
are held. Rex, King of Carnival, is a prominent businessman, chosen by secret
committee. His Queen is always a debutante of the current season. On Mardi Gras
day, everyone joins in the costuming, young and old alike, resident and
tourist.
In European countries, the coming of the wise men bearing gifts to the Christ
Child is celebrated twelve days after Christmas. The celebration, called
Epiphany, Little Christmas on the Twelfth Night, is a time of exchanging gifts
and feasting. All over the world people gather for festive Twelfth Night
celebrations. One of the most popular customs is still the baking of a special
cake in honor of the three kings..."A Kings Cake."
Tradition has now evolved through time to obligate the person who receives the
baby (inside every King Cake!) to continue the festivities by hosting another
king cake party.
King Cakes were originally a simple ring of dough with little decoration.
Gambino's has developed its own special recipe as a signature item to become
The King of King Cakes.
The King Cake is made with a rich Danish dough, baked and covered with a poured
sugar topping and decorated with the traditional Mardi Gras-colored sugars. The
end result is a delicious and festive cake in traditional Rex colors: Purple,
representing Justice; Green, representing Faith; Gold, representing Power.
Hundreds of thousands of King Cakes are consumed at parties every year, making
the King Cake another fine Louisiana tradition. A Mardi Gras party just
wouldn't be a Mardi Gras party without a King Cake!