As the website for Mardi Gras New Orleans says, “You can’t cancel Mardi Gras anymore than you can cancel Christmas or Easter. It’s the parades that have been canceled… not the holiday. Not the King Cakes. Not the Mardi Gras music. Not the decorations. Just the huge gatherings.” King cake by Little Ola s (an offshoot of Olamaie) (Courtesy of Little Ola s)
Fat Tuesday falls on Feb. 16 this year, and since the pandemic forced cancellations of parades and group celebrations, king cakes are even more important this year. A traditional version consists of a bready-style cake with a cinnamon swirl and a tri-color glaze on top – traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power – but there are other popular variations with cream cheese or fruit. A “féve,” or small trinket, usually a baby Jesus, is hidden in the cake and whoever finds it wins a prize (or is responsible for bringing the king cake next year).