The Tradition of Mardi Gras King Cakes
The King Cake is believed to have originated in France around the 12th century.These early Europeans celebrated the coming of the three wise men bearing giftstwelve days after Christmas calling it the Feast of the epiphany, Twelfth Night,or King's Day.
The main part of the celebration was the baking of a King’s Cake to honor the threeKings. The cakes were made circular to portray the circular route used by the kingsto get to the Christ Child, which was taken to confuse King Herod who was tryingto follow the wise men so he could kill the Christ Child. In these early King Cakesa bean, pea, or coin was hidden inside the cake. The person who got the hidden piecewas declared King for the day or was said to have good luck in the coming year.
In Louisiana, Twelfth Night also signifies the beginning of the carnival seasonwhich ends with Mardi Gras Day. The bean, pea and the coin have been replaced bya small plastic baby to symbolize the Christ Child. The person who gets the babyis expected to carry on the carnival festivities by hosting the next King Cake party.
Our King Cakes are baked fresh daily and filled with real fruit filling, fresh creamfilling, or a combination of both. King Cakes are decorated in the traditional MardiGras colors; gold (for power), green (for faith) and purple (for justice).
The person to find the baby in their slice of King Cake gets to be "king" or "queen" for a day and is also said to have good luck. The person also is expected to carry on the carnival festivities by hosting the next King Cake party.
The 2024 King Cake season starts on Twelfth Night or Epiphany January 6th through Mardi Gras February 13th, 2024.
King Cakes are our specialty, and is famous across the United States for shipping the best kingcake in town! Quality and personal service are emphasized because our customers are the reason we have continued to grow King Cake season after King Cake season!
