Mardi Gras literally translates to Fat Tuesday and the signature sweet of that Carnival feast is the King Cake.
The history of the cake is intertwined with Carnival’s history, and it's is believed to have its roots in ancient pagan festivals. (Halloween from Samhain, Christmas from Yule).
Carnival had two influences, Lupercalia and Saturnalia. Set in mid-February, Lupercalia celebrated rushing in the fertility spring, both for the coming harvest and humans.
Saturnalia, celebrated in December included the ritual of temporarily switching the hierarchical roles through a bean hidden inside a cake.
The bean hidden inside the Saturnalia cake was the fava bean, and he or she who found it would be temporarily crowned ruler for the day.
This ancient legume was considered magical in pagan times.
As Christianity became the predominant religion in Western Europe, people still clung to their traditional celebrations, but the significance changed.
During the Saturnalia the ‘king of the day’ was chosen by lot, using a bean concealed in a galette.
It was only in the Middle Ages that this cake ceremony began to be associated with the festival of Epiphany.” January 6th became the day of the Epiphany.
The Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, marks the beginning of King Cake season in New Orleans.
Three Kings day was celebrated in various Medieval European countries.
Francophone countries had the Galette des Rois. Spain had the Rosca de Reyes, Portugal the Bolo Rei. The French cake galette is a flaky, golden, puff pastry with frangipane inside.
Food historian, Pierre Leclercq, believes that this cake is very similar to the Saturnalia cake, given its hue and shape that reflect the sun.
So, with Pagan roots, the Baby, Jesus and Fat Tuesday, enjoy your King Cake.
