History of King Cake

In New Orleans, January 6 marks the start of Carnival and king cake season. The purple green and gold pastry is served at king cake parties held throughout the city. Hidden inside each braided cake is a bean or plastic baby. Custom dictates that whoever finds it must buy the next king cake (and/or host the next king cake party).

More history and fun facts about king cakes:

* The purple, green and gold colored sugar and icing on king cakes appeared after 1872, when the Krewe of Rex selected the colors for its opening Mardi Gras parade. The symbolic meaning of the colors: purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power).

* In the 17th century, Louis XVI took part in at least one Twelfth Night festival where a bean or ceramic figure was hidden in the cake, also known as a Gateau des Rois (King's cake).

* France's couronne (crown) brioche was the forerunner to New Orleans' king cake. Creoles – colonials of French and Spanish descent who settled in New Orleans – adopted the French Twelfth Night cake custom and blended it with the Spanish tradition of throwing a grand ball on Twelfth Night.

* In France, King's Day celebrations end on January 31. By the end of the 18th century, party-loving colonists had extended the tradition into an entire season of balls, which started on Twelfth Night and ended on Mardi Gras.

* Haydel's Bakery set the Guiness World Record for the largest king cake on September 22, 2010. The cake was 5,800 feet long and weighed 8,688 pounds.

Looking for a great New Orleans king cake? Locals rave about the king cakes from these bakeries.

Heading to New Orleans for Mardi Gras? New Orleans hotel rooms sell out faster than you can say “Throw me something, Mister!” (Hotels are typically sold out before the Christmas holidays.) Book your room in a New Orleans hotel on a Mardi Gras parade route today!