This whole post was fascinating, but I was particularly interested to read about the King cake with purple baby hidden in it. I'm sure you are familiar with the King cake (galette des rois) they make in France on January 6 (the twelfth day of Christmas) which contains a little figurine called a fève. Apparently this also represents the Christ Child and it's good luck to get the trinket, but not good luck to bite it in half. :)
I have heard of the galette des rois! I just looked it up and saw there was a recipe from David Lebovitz that's quite different from the one I sampled in Galveston, basically a puff pastry tart with an almond filling. He said the fève (literally "bean") might be a child's favorite cartoon character. Here's a link to his story and recipe: https://www.davidlebovitz.com/galette-des-rois-kings-cake-recipe/
After reading your comment, I also recalled being in Mexico on Jan. 6 when I was in my 20s and sampling a cake with a baby inside. In Mexico the cake is called Rosca de Reyes, which means "wreath of kings" and, like the other little figures, represents the baby Jesus. So clearly the King Cake tradition is pretty widespread. Thanks for the additional info, Marg!
That is interesting, I am not at all up on the MG lingo, but I do appreciate the floats etc. I have a good friend from Louisiana, so I have heard lots of amazing stories about MG.
Funny how we interpret language.
I do think I will just continue to delight in thinking it is just signage for a cool looking cat crew 😻
Thanks, Sheryl! I just discovered that krewes are actually groups of people (maybe cats too!😆) who organize floats, balls, costumes and other festivities and details that take place in the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras. I thought it was just a play on the word crew, but it’s part of the MG lingo!
These photos and the narrative, Ruth! I had no idea about Galveston’s celebrations— and I LOVE the Mardi Gras Tree! Going to remember this for next year! 💜 💛 💚 🎭
Thanks, Jolene! It was a revelation to us too. We were just going to spend a quiet weekend by the sea (in the Gulf of MEXICO!!!!), and suddenly everywhere we looked it was Mardi Gras time! When I saw the first tree, I wondered why someone still had a Christmas tree up in February. Then I saw them everywhere! I imagine they take them down for Lent, but I wouldn’t bet on it! The town is clearly a little gaga over Mardi Gras!🎭
It was a loooong time before I realized that Mardi Gras meant, literally, fat Tuesday, even though I'd heard the phrase fat Tuesday beforehand. Of course, it occurred when I was teaching myself French. Ohhhh, that's what it means. Along with foie gras. Being a bit curmudgeonly, I never understood the idea of stuffing yourself on Tuesday so you could more easily fast on Wednesday. To me it defeats the whole point of a fast. Just eat normally, stop, and then resume. No big deal. Same as New Year's resolutions. If you want to change, do so immediately. Picking a special time for it makes no logical sense. But ... the world isn't logical, is it ...?
No kidding--not a logical world at all! I completely agree about not stuffing yourself in order to be fortified for a fast or self-denial of any kind, but for some reason that seems to be human nature. If we're worried about coming scarcity, we stock up--probably overdoing it. I remember that my grandma,having gone through 2 world wars, a Depression and being displaced from the land of her birth, kept her cupboards so overstocked that some of her cans actually when bad. I think she was always worrying about the next catastrophe.
Very fun Ruth. I did some work over a couple of years in New Orleans and we got to enjoy the Mardi Gras and Jazz Festival traditions. The food was of course great. I think the bookend days of religious periods like Lent & Ramadan and excuses to party. I decided to ask Google and the closest approximation in Judaism might be Elul. Anyhow, I remember the celebration of Fat Tuesday and Dyngus Day which both seemed to matter in growing up with some Polish American traditions. Dyngus Day sort of approximates the end of Ramadan for example. Get out and party.
Dyngus Day? Love the name, Mark! It's interesting that religions have parallel holidays that include some form of fasting for penance or introspection and others for feasting and joy. Actually the closest approximation in Judaism would probably be the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which begin by celebrating the New Year with apples and honey and end 10 days later with a daylong fast of repentance commitment to living a better life. The holiday that seems most like Mardi Gras is Purim, arriving later this month, where there are a lot of masks, costumes, sweets and wine. Four weeks later comes Passover when Jews are supposed to give up all things leavened--bread, cake, cereal, etc.--and eat matzo for 7 days. So I guess that sounds a bit like Lent, and it does often coincide with Easter. How fun that you got to enjoy Mardi Gras in New Orleans!
Up kinda late tonight and saw your response. Thanks for sharing. I think I've seen it estimated previously that we seem to have managed to make our way through 6000 Gods as humans through the ages. Once we got to Monotheism I think the patterns you describe are definitely obvious. It seems that you and I seem to enjoy the associated food and drink traditions it seems along with the other traditions that keep us connected. I have a funny story at Eid that you might enjoy but that will be fodder for another time.
I've been meaning for years to make a King Cake, possibly skipping the plastic baby and the colors, but never quite get round to it. Looking forward to hearing about your taffy man!
Thanks, Annette! A king cake is on my list too. It’s variously described as a dough that’s akin to either a brioche or a cinnamon roll. I imagine you could easily dial down the sweetness, though I believe excess is the point—eat (sugar and fat!), drink and make merry for tomorrow—ah today—you have to give it up for Lent.
I loved this post. I think I will make a King cake with a purple baby next year!
Thanks, Bev! It's quite eye-catching, isn't it?🤗
This whole post was fascinating, but I was particularly interested to read about the King cake with purple baby hidden in it. I'm sure you are familiar with the King cake (galette des rois) they make in France on January 6 (the twelfth day of Christmas) which contains a little figurine called a fève. Apparently this also represents the Christ Child and it's good luck to get the trinket, but not good luck to bite it in half. :)
I have heard of the galette des rois! I just looked it up and saw there was a recipe from David Lebovitz that's quite different from the one I sampled in Galveston, basically a puff pastry tart with an almond filling. He said the fève (literally "bean") might be a child's favorite cartoon character. Here's a link to his story and recipe: https://www.davidlebovitz.com/galette-des-rois-kings-cake-recipe/
After reading your comment, I also recalled being in Mexico on Jan. 6 when I was in my 20s and sampling a cake with a baby inside. In Mexico the cake is called Rosca de Reyes, which means "wreath of kings" and, like the other little figures, represents the baby Jesus. So clearly the King Cake tradition is pretty widespread. Thanks for the additional info, Marg!
a purple baby hidden in a cake! Mardi gras is full of hazards!
Ha ha! I imagine most people chew rather carefully...
I wonder how many other people read the ‘krew of meow’ as the ‘crew of mee-yew’ ???
Fun post, enjoyed the read.
That is interesting, I am not at all up on the MG lingo, but I do appreciate the floats etc. I have a good friend from Louisiana, so I have heard lots of amazing stories about MG.
Funny how we interpret language.
I do think I will just continue to delight in thinking it is just signage for a cool looking cat crew 😻
The restaurant where I saw the sign is filled with cat lovers (and the owner's name is actually Kat!), so I think your assumption is actually correct.
Thanks, Sheryl! I just discovered that krewes are actually groups of people (maybe cats too!😆) who organize floats, balls, costumes and other festivities and details that take place in the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras. I thought it was just a play on the word crew, but it’s part of the MG lingo!
These photos and the narrative, Ruth! I had no idea about Galveston’s celebrations— and I LOVE the Mardi Gras Tree! Going to remember this for next year! 💜 💛 💚 🎭
Thanks, Jolene! It was a revelation to us too. We were just going to spend a quiet weekend by the sea (in the Gulf of MEXICO!!!!), and suddenly everywhere we looked it was Mardi Gras time! When I saw the first tree, I wondered why someone still had a Christmas tree up in February. Then I saw them everywhere! I imagine they take them down for Lent, but I wouldn’t bet on it! The town is clearly a little gaga over Mardi Gras!🎭
It’s fantastic!
I had no idea that Galveston had such a lively Mardi Gras celebration! The decorated trees are beautiful! Looking forward to your next post, Ruth.
Nor did I, Vicki! Galveston was surprising in a lot of ways—far more fun and friendly than I expected. A good getaway! 🤗
Looks like a fabulous time was had! Love all the color and decorations!
Thanks, Jeanine!
love when people are all IN for their holiday!
Yeah, it does make a difference, Ellen. The enthusiasm is catching. Thanks for commenting!
It was a loooong time before I realized that Mardi Gras meant, literally, fat Tuesday, even though I'd heard the phrase fat Tuesday beforehand. Of course, it occurred when I was teaching myself French. Ohhhh, that's what it means. Along with foie gras. Being a bit curmudgeonly, I never understood the idea of stuffing yourself on Tuesday so you could more easily fast on Wednesday. To me it defeats the whole point of a fast. Just eat normally, stop, and then resume. No big deal. Same as New Year's resolutions. If you want to change, do so immediately. Picking a special time for it makes no logical sense. But ... the world isn't logical, is it ...?
No kidding--not a logical world at all! I completely agree about not stuffing yourself in order to be fortified for a fast or self-denial of any kind, but for some reason that seems to be human nature. If we're worried about coming scarcity, we stock up--probably overdoing it. I remember that my grandma,having gone through 2 world wars, a Depression and being displaced from the land of her birth, kept her cupboards so overstocked that some of her cans actually when bad. I think she was always worrying about the next catastrophe.
Very fun Ruth. I did some work over a couple of years in New Orleans and we got to enjoy the Mardi Gras and Jazz Festival traditions. The food was of course great. I think the bookend days of religious periods like Lent & Ramadan and excuses to party. I decided to ask Google and the closest approximation in Judaism might be Elul. Anyhow, I remember the celebration of Fat Tuesday and Dyngus Day which both seemed to matter in growing up with some Polish American traditions. Dyngus Day sort of approximates the end of Ramadan for example. Get out and party.
Dyngus Day? Love the name, Mark! It's interesting that religions have parallel holidays that include some form of fasting for penance or introspection and others for feasting and joy. Actually the closest approximation in Judaism would probably be the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which begin by celebrating the New Year with apples and honey and end 10 days later with a daylong fast of repentance commitment to living a better life. The holiday that seems most like Mardi Gras is Purim, arriving later this month, where there are a lot of masks, costumes, sweets and wine. Four weeks later comes Passover when Jews are supposed to give up all things leavened--bread, cake, cereal, etc.--and eat matzo for 7 days. So I guess that sounds a bit like Lent, and it does often coincide with Easter. How fun that you got to enjoy Mardi Gras in New Orleans!
Up kinda late tonight and saw your response. Thanks for sharing. I think I've seen it estimated previously that we seem to have managed to make our way through 6000 Gods as humans through the ages. Once we got to Monotheism I think the patterns you describe are definitely obvious. It seems that you and I seem to enjoy the associated food and drink traditions it seems along with the other traditions that keep us connected. I have a funny story at Eid that you might enjoy but that will be fodder for another time.
Thanks for reminding us to celebrate and have some fun, Ruth! Love the theater and foods of Mardi Gras.
Thank you, Anne! It’s essential, isn’t it? I wished we could have stayed and joined in the fun!🥳
Can't wait to read about the taffy guy!
Thanks, dear!
Good article.
I've been meaning for years to make a King Cake, possibly skipping the plastic baby and the colors, but never quite get round to it. Looking forward to hearing about your taffy man!
Thanks, Annette! A king cake is on my list too. It’s variously described as a dough that’s akin to either a brioche or a cinnamon roll. I imagine you could easily dial down the sweetness, though I believe excess is the point—eat (sugar and fat!), drink and make merry for tomorrow—ah today—you have to give it up for Lent.
Hmmm….I am clearly susceptible to such thinking. 😂 However, I bet the purple sugar tastes same as plain!
I'm sure you're right, though wouldn't it be nice if it tasted like concord grapes?
Ah, I hate Concord grapes, so . . . no. 😂
Oops! Well, maybe plums....