The Carnival season officially begins in Louisiana on January 6, King's Day or Twelfth Night. The Twelfth Night Revelers, a New Orleans' Carnival Krewe (organization) that dates to the 1800's, holds its carnival ball and each maid is given a piece of King Cake. The maid who has the golden bean or the baby in her piece of cake becomes Queen of Twelfth Night Revelers and is toasted with champagne.
King Cake parties are held every day beginning January 8 and until Mardi Gras in homes, schools, and wherever people gather and whoever gets the baby has to host the next King Cake party. As you can see we love to party.
The traditional King Cake is made with a brioche dough and is lightly glazed with an icing in the colors of Mardi Gras, purple, green and gold.