In many European countries, the coming of the Wise Men bearing gifts to the Christ Child is celebrated twelve days after Christmas. This celebration, called Epiphany, Little Christmas, or Twelfth Night, is a time of exchanging gifts and feasting. It is also the first event of the season of Carnival. All over the world people gather for Twelfth Night celebrations. One of the most popular customs is still the baking of a special cake in honor of the three Kings-a King's Cake. A small figure is put inside the cake representing the Christ Child. It is said that a year of good fortune awaits the lucky person who gets the figure. The celebration is perpetuated by the custom of having the person who received the baby supply the cake for the next party. King cake parties continue from the twelfth day of Christmas (January 6th) until 'Fat Tuesday,' or 'Mardi Gras,' the last day of feasting before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. The word Carnival is actually a translation of the 'farewell to meat,' (carne) since meat and other luxuries were always given up during Lent. King cakes are decorated with Mardi Gras colored icings and fruit. The Purple stands for Justice , the Green for Faith, and the Gold for Power.
Parade Route
| History
| Shiner Ball
| King Cake |