Here is a brief run-down of the story of the king cake, the centerpiece of carnival ritual and one of many colonial bastardizations of French culture adapted to the new, wild city of New Orleans:
6 January is known as Twelfth Night; twelve days after x-mas commences the beginning of carnival season and the baking and eating of king cakes up until the third Sunday before Ash Wednesday, which is the day after Mardi Gras day. Before it was known as Twelfth Night, 6 January was singularly regarded as the Feast of the Epiphany (”manifestation” in Greek) which celebrates the revelation of god in human form (”Jesus” to you & me). In Ireland this date is known as Little Christmas or Women’s Christmas(6 January is x-mas day on the old Roman calendar) and the men of the household assume all cleaning & home-making duties for the day while all the women meet at the restaurants and bars for some overdue socializing and good will and even receive gifts from their children in appreciation.
French culture, Catholic adoration, spiritual manifestation, & men doing housework. Consider it all while enjoying your cake.
