For those of you that don’t know, it’s time to kick off Carnival with Festivals. Here’s a little background on what and why:
Jan. 6, the 12th night on the Biblical calendar, marked the beginning of the 153rd annual pre-Lenten celebration. Before it wraps up Feb. 24, almost 100 parades will have rolled in the area and thousands of riders will have thrown tons of glitzy gee-gaws to what organizers hope will be huge crowds.
Mayor Ray Nagin acknowledged the start of the season with the city’s annual king cake party, slicing up dozens of pastries covered with purple, green and gold icing, and each holding a tiny, plastic baby. Tradition has it that the person getting the baby in their slice of cake must supply the next king cake.
King cakes, believed to have originated in France around the 12th century, are eaten throughout Carnival season, but on 12th night, or the Feast of the Epiphany, they mark the arrival of the three wise men bearing gifts 12 days after Christmas.
And you all thought it was about sin and fun. Shame on you all for thinking that. I know that some said Katrina hit New Orleans was God’s way of trying to wipe out the sin in New Orleans. It was nature and that’s all.
