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Date: Monday, January 1, 2001 
Question/Topic: King's Cake - Mardi Gras - New Orleans 
Answer/Pointer: See: Folklore of American Holidays, by Hennig Cohen andTristram Potter R 394.2 Fol, 1st ed., 1987, p. 27, or J R 394.2 Fol, 2nd ed., 1991, p. 29 or see Problem Box inder King's Cake for photocopy from above From the New Orleans Public Library: The celebration began in 1870 with the Ball of the 12th Night Revelers (12 days after Christmas, or Epiphany when 3 wise men (kings) appeared. Queens and maids were chosen by prearranged discovery of gold and silver beans in their part of the cake. Beans were replaced with china dolls, which were outlaws in 1965. Now a plastic baby is baked into commercial cakes, and whoever gets the slice with the baby brings the next cake. Traditionally, when a girl got the baby, she selects a king, gives a party the next weekend. This continues until Lent. 
Librarian: LCLCPL 
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