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Mardi Gras Mystery, or, I Don't mean to whine but it appears our baby is missing!

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Where's the Baby Mr. and Mrs. King cake Shipper?

One of the finest traditions bar none of Mardi Gras is the King Cake. I cannot divulge how many I've help consume, but each one was completely outfitted and fully representative of the festival spirit. This year it appears that some some subtlety may have been worked on the cake and the tradition rendered less joyous due to unforeseen circumstances. Unless "our" baby was consumed by someone we were unaware of, we may have a missing Mardi Gras King cake baby mystery on our hand. That or some sort of other tradition destroying politically correct shenanigan-ism going on.

It originally appeared that all was normal but why did I have that strange feeling something wasn't quite right?

My beloved son had this cake airlifted in via the fine folks at FEDEX. I heard the truck as it approached rumbling slowly down the cul-de-sac. When the deliveryman delivered the parcel to our step, I surprised him as he approached the door, it suddenly opened, a hand shot out, retrieved the cake and the door closed. Seeing it was from Cajun country, I knew it was the annual King Cake, We had learned to love em after living in Slidell, Louisiana for several years and looked forward to the annual confection arriving. Everything looked good at that point. Late Monday night before Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday for thenon-francophile) we opened the box gingerly and beheld the cake. It looked so good.

The History/Origins of the King Cake according to the Cake Bakers Data Sheet

Day 12 after Christmas was originally known as King's day, or Twelth night or Epiphany. On that night, The Three wise men or Kings had followed a star to pay homage to the Christ Child. For Christians, the Twelfth Night marks the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of the Mardi Gras Season.

Meanwhile over in France, Oui, Oui, a special cake was made and a bean or coin was placed inside. The person who found the bean or coin was crowned King or Queen for the evening and was thought to have great luck for the coming year.

Down in New Orleans, King Cake parties are held during mardi Gras Season. Everywhere, whether city or bayou, King Cakes are enjoyed throughout the land. Like in the bible story, there is search for a baby, and the common saying in Who Dat country is, "Who dat got da baby?"

Tradition is that whosoever finds the baby buys the next cake. We depart the history and return to our mystery.

I think we wuz robbed of our tradition

The first few slices of cake all felt normal. Excitement built as each slice was cut, examined, and no baby found. As the cake dwindled down to just a small section, and it truly was a glorious pastry, perfectly complimenting a cup of coffe or milk. Our feeling of unease grew as we had continued to feel that something didn't seem quite right. Normally, the unluckiest person in our house found the baby within the first twenty four hours. It was now nigh on to 48 hours and the baby was still undiscovered.

As it turns out when the final piece of cake was turned over, no baby! We had had a feeling that despite how good the cake was, something was missing. In one swoop, we were robbed of the fun of the holiday, and it used to be so much fun to find that baby.
Even more developments since the article was written laaaateee last evening/early this morning. Our unluckiest household member did indeed find the baby, and has been known to happen. They hid this fact from the family in the vain hope of not having to pony up the money for next years cake! Nice try Regan

Oh well, the small now even sweeter consolation is that the cream cheese this year never tasted better.
Our former quandary being solved, in hindsight, what would you do?

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Guestbook

  • naheedahsan Mar 10, 2012 @ 2:28 pm | delete
    i have never heard of King Cakes, thanks for sharing
  • KathyBatesel Mar 4, 2012 @ 10:17 pm | delete
    Aw, man! Sounds like it's time for a Mississippi Queen cake - preferably one with twin tokens inside.
  • Mujjen Feb 29, 2012 @ 3:08 am | delete
    How interesting, I had never heard of the King Cake!
  • COUNTRYLUTHIER Mar 1, 2012 @ 8:36 pm | delete
    Since this season is past, get one air shipped in next MardiGras. There are lots of bakeries that FEDEX. Luckily, this year, our local commissary had some and I bought one for our home and one for family friends who loved it. THanks for visiting and don't forget next year!
  • akarki Feb 27, 2012 @ 10:25 am | delete
    We do not have the King Cake tradition, but maybe next year i will give a try, now traditions are legal to pinch , eg. we did not have Valentine day either, but now is so ours!
  • JoyfulReviewer Feb 22, 2012 @ 12:54 pm | delete
    Really enjoyed reading of this tradition and your own story. Glad your mystery has been solved.
  • Donnette Feb 17, 2012 @ 12:16 am | delete
    Oh glory, i have never heard of King Cakes... I simply adore your descriptions, and your writing is stunning!
  • COUNTRYLUTHIER Mar 1, 2012 @ 8:37 pm | delete
    Thanks for the kind words and the visit!
  • WinWriter Feb 11, 2012 @ 10:29 am | delete
    Oh, do I love King Cakes. Loved your lens. Brought back some fond memories of my living in New Orleans. We used to get our King Cakes from Gambino's
  • COUNTRYLUTHIER Feb 11, 2012 @ 8:37 pm | delete
    Thanks for the comment WinWriter. Slidell's where we learned to love em and mudbugs (er crawfish for the uninitiated) too.
  • tembrooke Feb 6, 2012 @ 7:49 pm | delete
    I'm a former New Orleanian and I am sorely missing my kingcake right now! Sadly, some bakeries have stopped putting babies in the cakes because of the choking hazard.
  • COUNTRYLUTHIER Feb 11, 2012 @ 8:35 pm | delete
    Sorry to hear that's happening. Thanks for visiting the lense!
  • DebMartin Feb 1, 2012 @ 5:27 pm | delete
    Oh, I want to try a Kingcake! I don't even care if I find the baby. Oops. Should I not say that ;-)
  • Formosangirl Jan 29, 2012 @ 11:34 am | delete
    My daughter had to bring food from her culture and a game for the holiday party at school. Since she is half Cajun, her Nana send a King's cake. And a student found the baby, fortunately. It was delicious. Who knew that the cream inside could be this think strawberry sugar cream cheese?
  • goo2eyes Jan 21, 2012 @ 6:32 pm | delete
    i like this french tradition, quite original. glad you found the "baby". regan was just being playful.
  • myshelle01 Jan 8, 2012 @ 10:07 pm | delete
    I loved this story,so different
  • COUNTRYLUTHIER Jan 8, 2012 @ 11:39 pm | delete
    Thanks for the kind compliment and visit. May the baby in your Kingcake never be lost, and may you never find one in the cake of other's! Thanks again>
  • ---Chazz Dec 27, 2011 @ 11:27 am | delete
    Great story told with just the right touch of humor and suspense. Thanks for a fun read and glad you solved the mystery.
  • KimGiancaterino Dec 11, 2011 @ 10:41 am | delete
    I've heard of the King cake, but have never participated in the tradition. Thanks for an enjoyable tale. I'm glad the culprit fessed up too!
  • HSSchulte Oct 18, 2011 @ 5:25 pm | delete
    What a wonderful story. I'd never heard of a King cake.
  • Tipi Sep 17, 2011 @ 12:44 pm | delete
    You are such a good story teller and your humor is delightful. I enjoyed your Mardi Gras mystery and glad that the King cake did have the baby and the family culprit was revealed. It reminds me of a can of frog legs we passed among the family at Christmas for many years, I can't remember where it first came from but we sure did get the mileage out of it.
  • vallain Sep 10, 2011 @ 2:36 am | delete
    I've never had one of these, so thanks for explaining the custom. Fun story!
  • CruiseReady Aug 26, 2011 @ 4:17 pm | delete
    Loved it! More short story lenses, please! :)
  • COUNTRYLUTHIER Aug 27, 2011 @ 12:32 am | delete
    Absolutely, thanks for visiting. I am sure Irene who is visiting Virginia will show up in a lens soon! Thanks for the comment.
  • vbright105 Aug 24, 2011 @ 11:45 pm | delete
    I'm not even from the south, and I LOVE King's cake! I bought one for my daughter for her birthday this year! I'm outraged that someone lost your baby! Someone needs to make things right. It's like....egg nog without the nog! I hope the mystery gets solved. I really enjoyed this lens.
  • COUNTRYLUTHIER Aug 27, 2011 @ 12:33 am | delete
    Thanks, it is like eggnog without the nog. Thanks again for the comment!
  • ChineseKitesforKids May 8, 2011 @ 11:23 am | delete
    You really have a great writing style. I love it. You crack me up. Great job once again.
  • KarenKay Apr 27, 2011 @ 7:21 am | delete
    We get 'em around here, but always with the baby and a couple of strands of beads in cellophane in the middle. I guess they don't want any liability for those who aren't expecting it. Not the same if you put the baby in yourself!
  • sushilkin Apr 27, 2011 @ 6:22 am | delete
    Thanks Allot for sharing valuable knowledge on Squidoo!! PRAY FOR JAPAN Please
  • MaxReily Mar 27, 2011 @ 1:48 pm | delete
    Very well written lens! I enjoyed the update that the baby really had been there, too. I was interested to see that you'd once lived in Slidell, LA. My hometown became the "sister city" of Slidell after Katrina. Small world, n'est ce pas?
  • DaddyGee Mar 19, 2011 @ 9:43 pm | delete
    Sounds like a great tradition. I noticed the cakes in the store way up here in the north.
  • Ladymermaid Mar 19, 2011 @ 2:50 pm | delete
    You captured my interest. I have never heard of this tradition. Absolutely delightful.
  • cwarden Mar 16, 2011 @ 11:40 pm | delete
    I can understand why you were shaken by the missing baby - it's the very best part! Thanks for the great story - and making me hungry :)
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What woud you do if the King Cake Baby were missing?

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Y'all Come on Down New Orleans Way and get your King Cake for Mardi Gras!

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All things New Orleans
Haydel Bakery
Haydel Bkery been around a long time and got the King Cake of your dreams.
Randazzo King Cakes
Manny's King Cake by Manny Randazzo

It's time for King Cake again

I can't wait for this year's air supply of the treat. Hopefully, our son will continue his tradition and thd truck will head down the cul-de-sac any day now.

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COUNTRYLUTHIER

Mississippian by birth and the Grace of God. Glad to meet you too! Currently a landlocked retired navy squid who has sailed the Atlantic, the Pacific,... more »

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