January 24, 2013

Headed to New Orleans!

Friday is our last day in the states. We've had a wonderful time here in Mississippi with my folks. It's over way too soon though and i'm a little heartbroken about that. But, let's not talk about that. The good news is that we're going to get the best send off ever! We're going to New Orleans and in the evening is the Krewe of Cleopatra Mardi Gras parade. It will be Marko's first taste of Mardi Gras and i can't wait. I LOVE Mardi Gras and i've missed too many of them these past years that i've lived in Holland.

People that don't know any better (Damn Yankees and Tourist) think that Mardi Gras is just about getting drunk and showing your tits. Well, it's not. It's a very old custom that goes on for many months before Fat Tuesday full of intricate and curious traditions. Way too many to go into here but i will share one of them with you...The King Cake!
A King Cake is a traditional cake made during Mardi Gras time. It's baked in a ring and is divided in sections of Purple, Green & Gold Sugar (mardi gras colors). In one of those sections, there is a little baby inside. One lucky person gets the baby but also has to buy the next King Cake.

2 comments:

norster said...

Hey Shelley. Sounds like you had a great time at home :) I enjoyed reading your posts a lot...Familiar sounding tradition this one... in Spain, and since my granny is spanish we had this at home too. And if you found the trinket you had to buy another cake :)like you guys. Check wiki here, hugs to you lovely! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosca_de_reyes

Shelley Rickey said...

Hey Nora! How interesting. New Orleans was once under spanish rule. Maybe that is where we got this tradition. That's neat. Hope you are well and your new year is getting off to a fabulous start! X,s.