King cake and today show

[colleen]

Seriously??!!

Your supposed to eat one cake for like 6 weeks? Or you buy/make a new King cake each week?

Ok I just read colleen's link about carnival. Very interesting...but King cake for 6 weeks? No wonder it's called FAT tuesday.

A lot of cultures have yummy food traditions for the Tuesday before Ash Wed. It was a way for people to use of supplies before the Lenten fast (back in the day when you had to give up things like eggs and such--- The orthodox still do a form of this fast). Some make pancakes, and I know in St. Louis a polish bakery makes these super yummy filled donuts.

 

[neeners]

Here in New England King's cake is unheard of. I actually couldn't figure out the OP at first because I had only heard of it in conjunction with Mardi Gras and had no idea that it was associated with Epiphany.

Perhaps some Southerners that moved to Maine might know about it but I've never seen one in my life.

Lucky you, living in Main I've always wanted to see it back there. I bet it is beautiful.

To be honest, I didn't even know about Mardi Gras until I was much older. We never celebrated this growing up, at least not that I know of. I don't even remember people talking about it. I grew up in the United Methodist Church and I'm sure we went through the whole Lenten season as everyone else did but I the whole "fat Tuesday" and "ash Wednesday" I didn't know that much about until I met my husband (he grew up Catholic) started having children and getting involved in our Presbyterian Church. Perhaps by the time I was older more main line Protestant Churches were celebrating Ash Wednesday etc.. I remember Catholics being surprised online that we had Ash Wednesday at our Presbyterian Church.

Anyway, I am ashamed to say I was very ignorant on the whole Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday deal, until later in life. Of course when I was younger I didn't care that much.

 

[benedictaoo]

Seriously??!!

Your supposed to eat one cake for like 6 weeks? Or you buy/make a new King cake each week?

Ok I just read colleen's link about carnival. Very interesting...but King cake for 6 weeks? No wonder it's called FAT tuesday.

You buy new ones. LOL, you can buy as many as you want- they will rot your teeth though... they are very rich. You can pick one up when you shop for groceries for about 5- 7 $ for a basic small. I like them for breakfast with coffee. Speaking of which, I still didn't see any in the store yet.

 

[benedictaoo]

Lucky you, living in Main I've always wanted to see it back there. I bet it is beautiful.

To be honest, I didn't even know about Mardi Gras until I was much older. We never celebrated this growing up, at least not that I know of. I don't even remember people talking about it. I grew up in the United Methodist Church and I'm sure we went through the whole Lenten season as everyone else did but I the whole "fat Tuesday" and "ash Wednesday" I didn't know that much about until I met my husband (he grew up Catholic) started having children and getting involved in our Presbyterian Church. Perhaps by the time I was older more main line Protestant Churches were celebrating Ash Wednesday etc.. I remember Catholics being surprised online that we had Ash Wednesday at our Presbyterian Church.

Anyway, I am ashamed to say I was very ignorant on the whole Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday deal, until later in life. Of course when I was younger I didn't care that much.

A lot of radical baptist and born again christians will protest mardi gras.. claim it's pagan worship. That when you holler, "throw me something mister" You're really worshipping that person.

 

[Maggie893]

You buy new ones. LOL, you can buy as many as you want- they will rot your teeth though... they are very rich. You can pick one up when you shop for groceries for about 5- 7 $ for a basic small. I like them for breakfast with coffee. Speaking of which, I still didn't see any in the store yet.

I want one.

 

[benedictaoo]

It's big in St. Louis too. I also believe we have the biggest Mardi Gras celebration next to New Orleans (in the US that is). I was amazed when I lived in other cities that most people had never heard of it, or had not celebrated Mardi Gras. I love King Cake. I think I might try to make my own King Cake for Fat Tuesday this year (still too sick to try scratch baking right now).

Really? I did not know that. Makes sense though since it's "St Louis". lol. and we both have St Louis cathedrals.

 

[benedictaoo]

I want one.

google "king cake" and see all the pictures of them. You'll really want one then.

 

[Maggie893]

Lucky you, living in Main I've always wanted to see it back there. I bet it is beautiful.

To be honest, I didn't even know about Mardi Gras until I was much older. We never celebrated this growing up, at least not that I know of. I don't even remember people talking about it. I grew up in the United Methodist Church and I'm sure we went through the whole Lenten season as everyone else did but I the whole "fat Tuesday" and "ash Wednesday" I didn't know that much about until I met my husband (he grew up Catholic) started having children and getting involved in our Presbyterian Church. Perhaps by the time I was older more main line Protestant Churches were celebrating Ash Wednesday etc.. I remember Catholics being surprised online that we had Ash Wednesday at our Presbyterian Church.

Anyway, I am ashamed to say I was very ignorant on the whole Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday deal, until later in life. Of course when I was younger I didn't care that much.

Maine is beautiful. Come visit!

The bars all celebrate Fat Tuesday but for the most part we all just focus on Ash Wednesday and starting Lent well. Mardi Gras is a pretty distant thing to us though we know it exists no one up here is really try to do it up. Kind of odd really since there is such a strong French presence up here, my own family included.

Now St. Patrick's Day....that's another story!

 

[Maggie893]

google "king cake" and see all the pictures of them. You'll really want one then.

I just did and they look so yummy!!

 

[neeners]

You buy new ones. LOL, you can buy as many as you want- they will rot your teeth though... they are very rich. You can pick one up when you shop for groceries for about 5- 7 $ for a basic small. I like them for breakfast with coffee. Speaking of which, I still didn't see any in the store yet.

Thanks for explaining about King Cakes, I doubt we even have them in our stores here. How interesting. I've watched the NO Mardi Gras parade on TV a few times but it seemed odd to me although looks fun, I guess you have to grow up in the culture to appreciate it and understand it.

 

[benedictaoo]

Oh we do St Patrick's day too and St Joesph. We have St Joseph's alters set up all over the city on his day. We have all the cultures here. We even do a St Patrick and St Joesph day parade/celebration.

If anyone want to order a king cake, here's the place to order it from. http://www.mannyrandazzo.com/cgi-bin/ordfrm

 

[colleen]

Really? I did not know that. Makes sense though since it's "St Louis". lol. and we both have St Louis cathedrals.

Most people don't. But, yep it's a big deal. I'm sure you could find info online by searching for Soulard (I guess you could say it is our french quarter) mardi gras and St. Louis. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the french settlers and the number of Catholics in the city.

 

[colleen]

Here's some info online:
http://www.mardigrasinc.com/Default.aspx

 

[neeners]

Maine is beautiful. Come visit!

The bars all celebrate Fat Tuesday but for the most part we all just focus on Ash Wednesday and starting Lent well. Mardi Gras is a pretty distant thing to us though we know it exists no one up here is really try to do it up. Kind of odd really since there is such a strong French presence up here, my own family included.

Now St. Patrick's Day....that's another story!

Same here, we celebrate Fat Tuesday and focus on Lent. But Mardi Gras is distant for us as well. I know many parishes and people do have Mardi Gras parties or fundraisers though, it just doesn't catch on. Whenever I've been to any of these, I always feel sorta lame like it's really not our thing. That could be just me

One of the down falls about growing up out this way is that we do not have the deep rooted culture compared to many places that do back east. We are not as old. Of course, that is probably not fair to say. I'm probably insulting many by saying that. :o After all the Native Americans were here before we were! And we do have a huge Mexican influence. And there's the all the Italian families who came out this way and many others...

 

[benedictaoo]

Here's some info online:
http://www.mardigrasinc.com/Default.aspx

It looks a lot like the truck floats (parades) we have on Mardi Gras day after the big Krews have rolled.

Y'all don't have them but on just mardi gras day, right? Not for two weeks like we do?

 

[colleen]

It looks a lot like the truck floats (parades) we have on Mardi Gras day after the big Krews have rolled.

Y'all don't have them but on just mardi gras day, right? Not for two weeks like we do?

The parade with the floats is a one day thing, but there are events going on from 12th night to Fat Tuesday. I'm sure it's not nearly as big as it is in New Orleans. But, it's still a pretty big deal here. I was so shocked that when I moved to San Francisco most people barely knew what Mardi Gras was, had no idea what time of year it occured, etc. I thought of all people you would think those in San Francisco would be all over Mardi Gras. I had lots of fun introducing newbies to King Cake

 

[Maggie893]

The parade with the floats is a one day thing, but there are events going on from 12th night to Fat Tuesday. I'm sure it's not nearly as big as it is in New Orleans. But, it's still a pretty big deal here. I was so shocked that when I moved to San Francisco most people barely knew what Mardi Gras was, had no idea what time of year it occured, etc. I thought of all people you would think those in San Francisco would be all over Mardi Gras. I had lots of fun introducing newbies to King Cake

It's a little cold up here for parades. So we just drink.

 

[benedictaoo]

Same here, we celebrate Fat Tuesday and focus on Lent. But Mardi Gras is distant for us as well. I know many parishes and people do have Mardi Gras parties or fundraisers though, it just doesn't catch on. Whenever I've been to any of these, I always feel sorta lame like it's really not our thing. That could be just me

One of the down falls about growing up out this way is that we do not have the deep rooted culture compared to many places that do back east. We are not as old. Of course, that is probably not fair to say. I'm probably insulting many by saying that. :o After all the Native Americans were here before we were! And we do have a huge Mexican influence. And there's the all the Italian families who came out this way and many others...

here you go.. there are lots of mardi gras you tube videos from the good to the bad and down right ugly. Give you a little taste of what it is and what it's like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISzhAzkZZ8g&feature=related

 

[neeners]

The parade with the floats is a one day thing, but there are events going on from 12th night to Fat Tuesday. I'm sure it's not nearly as big as it is in New Orleans. But, it's still a pretty big deal here. I was so shocked that when I moved to San Francisco most people barely knew what Mardi Gras was, had no idea what time of year it occured, etc. I thought of all people you would think those in San Francisco would be all over Mardi Gras. I had lots of fun introducing newbies to King Cake

Are you in SF right now? I am a little over an hour from SF. My nephew is living there now and going to school, he loves it there. It wouldn't surprise me they wouldn't know, as I said, it just never caught on out this way. I'm sure it has to do with migration, in my entire life here, I've only met two people from NO and all they ever talk about is going back there for summer and Mardi Gras we just don't measure up for them.

here you go.. there are lots of mardi gras you tube videos from the good to the bad and down right ugly. Give you a little taste of what it is and what it's like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISzhAzkZZ8g&feature=related

That was disabled benedictaoo, sorry.

 

[colleen]

It's a little cold up here for parades. So we just drink.

lol

The last time I went to the parade it was freezing outside. I had on long underwear, jeans, two layers on top, a heavy wool coat, and I was still freezing. But, the floats had a literary theme that year so I had to go see them. But, I saw a few girls flashing, and obviously other than just being saddened I wanted to pull their shirt down and tell them they were going to get frost bite.