Here in Louisiana they are not into Valentine's day but instead Mardi Gras!!! Coming from Washington we never really got into Mardi Gras and all I knew was that if you wanted beads you showed your boobs. Now that I am in the heart land of the Mardi Gras festivities it is much more than that...or so I have been told. It has been fun learning this new holiday that even the schools get off! Yesterday on our way to Walmart to buy our new flat screen TV we where stopped in down town Leesville by a parade for Mardi Gras! We got out of the car and joined in with all the people waving and shouting for beads, candy, cups and much more to be thrown at you (literatlly thrown directly at you)! There were probably 10-15 floats, horses, cops, Miss teen of Leesville and lots more! It was a lot of fun and Travis and I got beads and brought them home to put on Charlie and Henry so they could celebrate the festivities!
The other fun thing about Mardi Gras is a cake called King's Cake. It is a round pastries that can have different fillings like cream cheese, lemon or cherry (probably many others) and lots of sprinkles to decorate. The fun thing about the King's cake is that there is a little plastic baby and whoever gets the little baby buys the next cake...oh and they have good luck. It is really good and fun to watch the person bite into the baby!
The other fun thing about Mardi Gras is a cake called King's Cake. It is a round pastries that can have different fillings like cream cheese, lemon or cherry (probably many others) and lots of sprinkles to decorate. The fun thing about the King's cake is that there is a little plastic baby and whoever gets the little baby buys the next cake...oh and they have good luck. It is really good and fun to watch the person bite into the baby!
We missed you yesterday in downtown Leesville at the parade. Our boys have loved being in Louisiana for Mardi Gras specifically for the beads (and at other parades they usually throw beads also!).
ReplyDeleteWe try to make it downtown Leesville for all the local parades and ceremonies and of course Mardi Gras is a hoot.
We drove east to Alexandria today to the Mardi Gras parade up there. Next year try to make that one also, they usually have a special area just for military near the end of the route close to the mall. It is larger with bigger Krewes and beads. One thing though, since it is near the end the parade doesn't show up till 30-45 minutes after it starts.
Thought you would enjoy learning more about King cakes; this is from wikipedia:
The "king cake" takes its name from the Biblical kings. Catholic tradition states that their journey to Bethlehem took twelve days, and that they arrived to honor the Christ child on Epiphany. The season for king cake extends from the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas through to Mardi Gras day.
There is more, but I'll let you take a look.
Keith and Jennifer
Wow thanks!!!! I love learning about the South!
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