Oh Fat Tuesday, you are a cruel mistress...

Happy Mardi Gras everyone!

Growing up, I was always a big fan of Fat Tuesday. I never really understood the meaning behind it as a tiny-one, even though I'm sure my parents explained it to me -- I pretty much just knew it as ten pounds of bacon, sausage, and pancakes for dinner day, which was followed very shortly after by a food coma and early bed time.

Shout out to my moms (send me money if you're reading this) for sending me this little snippet about the ever so delicious King Cake. If you are unfamiliar with the King Cake, it is the cake that has a baby inside. If that confuses you even more then that's awesome, because that's what I was trying to do. Read on.



"History behind the King Cake...

As part of our Christian faith, the coming of the wise men bearing gifts to the Christ Child is celebrated twelve days after Christmas. We refer to this as the Feast of the Epiphany or Little Christmas on the Twelfth Night. This is a time of celebration, exchanging gifts and feasting.

Today, the tradition continues as people all over the world gather for festive Twelfth Night celebrations. A popular custom was and still is the baking of a special cake in honor of the three kings called "A King's Cake." Inside every cake is a tiny baby (generally plastic now, but sometimes this baby might be made of porcelain or even gold).
The tradition of having King Cake Parties has evolved through time, and the person who receives the slice of cake with the baby is asked to continue the festivities by hosting the next King Cake party. Originally, King Cakes were a simple ring of dough with a small amount of decoration. Today's King Cakes are much more festive. After the rich Danish dough is braided and baked, the "baby" is inserted.

The top of the ring or oval cake is then covered with delicious sugar toppings in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold. January 6, the Twelfth Night after Christmas, is also the day our Mardi Gras season begins. Mardi Gras Day is always 47 days prior to Easter Sunday (Fat Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday)"

James