Pre-Christian Tradition

• The tradition of the King Cake goes as far back as pre-Christian western Europe. As part of the annual Harvest celebrations, a cake was baked for a sacrificial ritual. A bean was hidden in the cake, and the man who found the bean in his portion was named "sacred king" for the next year. This man was treated like a king for the year until the next Harvest feast when he was sacrificed and his blood returned to the soil in exchange for a successful harvest. Then his successor would be chosen with the next cake.
  
  

Christian Influence

• In 12th-century France, Catholic priests changed the meaning of the cake into a King Cake and incorporated it into the Mardi Gras celebration. The cake became oval to represent the search of the Magi for the Christ child and was served in the time period beginning at Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, to the beginning of the Lenten season at Mardi Gras. The bean or pea hidden in the cake became a symbol of good luck or a blessing for the upcoming year.
  
  

Arrival in Lousiana

• French settlers brought the King Cake to Louisiana in the 18th century, and it was eaten in celebration of the Epiphany until the end of the 18th century. The bean became a ceramic baby, representing the Christ child, and in the new tradition, the finder became the host for the next King Cake party. These parties were held once a week between Epiphany and Lent.
  
  

The Wooden Cake Tradition

• In 1870, the cake tradition changed again. The "cake" was made out of wood and had small drawers in a bottom layer. Girls opened the drawers looking for a gold bean. If found, they were to become the Queen of the Ball; if a silver bean was found, she would become part of the queen's court. Some New Orleans Krewes, or float-building teams, use this method today to choose their monarch. Edible King Cakes are still served as well.
  
  

The King Cake

• The classic King Cake is a coffee-cake style, shaped in a large oval. It can be filled with pecans and cinnamon, cream cheese or fruit filling, such as apple or cherry. It is iced with a white sugar glaze and sprinkled with colored sugar in the Mardi Gras colors of purple, gold and green. The ceramic baby has been replaced by plastic. The cakes can be ordered with one baby or as many as you like.