What's the deal with kingcakes/mardi gras?

[w0231136]

Is there any significance in kingcakes related to catholism?

Also what is the deal with Mardi Gras and the parades?

I just now learning these things. Note: I live in Louisiana north of New Orleans so it is a very big deal here. I came from a Baptist church from birth so I have always been told that it is paganistic, idolistic, and evil. I really need some insight on this. Thanks.

 

[searching04]

My family is from LA and MS. Mardi Gras and king cakes and little babies are just old traditions; the little babay is just symbolic of the new year; its the last party time before Lent. Don’t get wrapped around the axle with it - enjoy it if you celebrate it. You live in LA for goodness sake. You’re not stepping into sinful territory unless you go get drunk, etc.

We had a great Irish priest one time that had the philosophy of “Catholics: party hard, pray hard.” Bottome line - you can enjoy yourself as a Catholic and you know where the boundaries are set. Use common sense.

Have fun, be safe!

 

[1ke]

Is there any significance in kingcakes related to catholism?

Originally the King Cake was a part of the celebration of Twelfth Night-- the Feast of Epiphany. The baby in the cake is Jesus. This tradition was brought to America by the French and Spanish.

Also what is the deal with Mardi Gras and the parades?

Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday in French. It was the day before Ash Wednesday and in earlier days it became a custom to have a party on Fat Tuesday (or for several days before) in which villagers would consume all the perishables that could not be eaten during Lent-- milk, butter, cheese, meat, etc. It had a festive atmosphere of parties, dances, etc., before the severe 40 day penance of Lent.

Many cultures have a Carnival or Mardi Gras and celebrate it with differing customs.

However, the parades and drunken silliness of New Orleans, the craziness in Rio, and the festivals in places like Venice, do not have religious significance anymore.

I have always been told that it is paganistic, idolistic, and evil. I really need some insight on this. Thanks.

Not at all, as long as you remember New Orleans has turned it into a money making tourist attraction, and Catholics should be focused on the religious aspects of that time of year. There is nothing wrong with going to the parades and such, but it is hard to avoid all the debauchery that goes on in the Quarter.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Yes, the king cakes are to use up all the fat in the house before Lent. Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday and that’s not meant as getting fat from all the king cake, but because Lent is about fasting, all the butter, lard, etc. is made into pancakes and king cakes. The baby is baked in as a good luck charm and the person who gets the baby figurine has to bring the cake for the next year.

These are old Catholic traditions in LA which probably go back to their origins in France, I haven’t done all the research but I know the Catholics in LA have different traditions than other Catholics. But it’s all fun and harmless. Just don’t go to NO during the Mardi Gras debacle…what a horrible tradition THAT is!

Welcome Home and best wishes on your conversion!!!

 

[w0231136]

I have always gone to the parades since i was a little child but our preacher always taught that everytime we raised our hands and asked for them to throw us something that it was like we were worshiping idols. I have been very careful on how I view this parades since being told this. I dont live in nola and so I don’t go to the parades there. I have only been once but our town does have a parade that is nice sized so this is the one we go to. I don’t want to do something that would be wrong. Ike one question about something else. What are the limitations on drinking? When is it wrong?

 

[1ke]

I have always gone to the parades since i was a little child but our preacher always taught that everytime we raised our hands and asked for them to throw us something that it was like we were worshiping idols.

Your preacher made that up. It’s silly.

I don’t want to do something that would be wrong. Ike one question about something else.

The Church has no teaching that going to a parade or catching beads and other items from the floats is in any way immoral.

What are the limitations on drinking? When is it wrong?

From the Catechism:

2290 The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others’ safety on the road, at sea, or in the air.

Drinking in moderation is not sinful.

 

[baltobetsy]

I have always gone to the parades since i was a little child but our preacher always taught that everytime we raised our hands and asked for them to throw us something that it was like we were worshiping idols. I have been very careful on how I view this parades since being told this.

Perhaps the preacher said this because he was very anti-Catholic. Mardi Gras, as you have learned, has its roots in Catholic tradition, and many Baptists think Catholics have a lot of pagan customs.

 

[bluerose]

In Mexico and other Latin countries, the custom is to give gifts on Epiphany (Three Kings’ Day)… which makes sense if you think about it: That is when Jesus received the gifts from the kings. We always celebrated Christmas, but when I was a kid, the custom before we went to bed on the 5th of January was to leave our shoes on the front porch with carrots in them for the kings’ camels (we didn’t have hay or camel food… it was either carrots or dog biscuits and my mother thought dog biscuits kind of lacked in dignity.) Then on the 6th we would find some little gifts from the kings. After dinner, we would have a “Rosca de los Reyes” or “Crown of the Kings” cake… a ring-shaped sweet yeast bread (or cake) decorated to look like a crown. In it was a tiny figure of Baby Jesus. Whoever got the piece with the Baby Jesus got an extra gift and had to host a party for the family on February 2nd (Candlemas Day) to officially end the Christmas season.

As for Mardi Gras, that has been explained quite well… I know there is a “Kings’ Cake” for Mardi Gras (decorated in purple, gold and green), but I don’t know if it’s the same as the one for Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day.

 

[Irishmom2]

In Mexico and other Latin countries, the custom is to give gifts on Epiphany (Three Kings’ Day)… which makes sense if you think about it: That is when Jesus received the gifts from the kings. We always celebrated Christmas, but when I was a kid, the custom before we went to bed on the 5th of January was to leave our shoes on the front porch with carrots in them for the kings’ camels (we didn’t have hay or camel food… it was either carrots or dog biscuits and my mother thought dog biscuits kind of lacked in dignity.) Then on the 6th we would find some little gifts from the kings. After dinner, we would have a “Rosca de los Reyes” or “Crown of the Kings” cake… a ring-shaped sweet yeast bread (or cake) decorated to look like a crown. In it was a tiny figure of Baby Jesus. Whoever got the piece with the Baby Jesus got an extra gift and had to host a party for the family on February 2nd (Candlemas Day) to officially end the Christmas season.

As for Mardi Gras, that has been explained quite well… I know there is a “Kings’ Cake” for Mardi Gras (decorated in purple, gold and green), but I don’t know if it’s the same as the one for Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day.

These are lovely traditions for Mardi Gras. You must have very fond memories of pleasant times with your family.

 

[DebChris]

The colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. Purple stands for justice, green for faith, and gold for power.
The word carnival, associated with Mardi Gras comes from the tradition of parading the fatted calf through town to be eaten before the end of the day. Mardi Gras officially ends at midnight as the austere days of Lent begin with Ash Wednesday.

 

[haljoseph]

Mardi Gras has deep religious roots that were brought to the city by european settlers over 200 years ago.

Mardi Gras means “fat Tuesday”; the day before Lent where it is supposed to be the last Tuesday before fasting during Lent.

There are very few who really realize and feel the Catholic tradition; rather, most see it as a day to be wild with very heavy drinking and using drugs based on arrest reports. It’s a 30 minute to the French Quarter for me but I do not go based on the craziness of that day.

A good example are the booking buses where people arrested for misdemeanors can be processed and let go or held in the bus until it is filled. Last year the weather was bad and there were under 1,000 arrests but in 2012 there were over 1,600 arrests on Fat Tuesday.

I have been to 30 plus Mardi Gras’ but now, at age 60, I would prefer to stay home and make a visit to our chapel. I hope and pray for the safety of the revelers tomorrow.

By the way, I have a King Cake on my kitchen table now. They are quite delicious.