The king cake tradition began in 1871 with the Twelfth Night Revelers, who mark the start of the Carnival season on the day the three kings arrived at the Christ child, 12 days after his birth. At their ball the Revelers placed a golden bean inside their king’s cake. Whichever lady found the bean was named the queen.
A Daily Picayune article from 1871 describes the Twelfth Night Revelers ball and the selection of their queen. The Revelers attempted to place the golden bean in the cake; however, the court fools were so disorderly and drunk that they threw pieces of the cake at the ladies, who were so appalled that they never divulged who had the bean. The court went without a queen that year.
Since then, New Orleanians have been having their cake and eating it too, by searching for the baby in the king cake.
Several New Orleans bakeries are known for their king cakes, and the cakes come in many shapes and sizes.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: The Times-Picayune
