This year Mardi Gras falls on March 5th.
Mardi Gras is celebrated in different ways around the world, preceded by many carnivals, the most famous of which are those of Venice (established in the 15th century) and Rio de Janeiro (introduced by the Portuguese, which will become the big party).
In France, this festive day is especially synonymous with greediness: donuts, waffles, pancakes, and disguises of course!
In the United States, when we talk about Mardi Gras, we think of New Orleans.
It is a tradition inscribed in the history of this city, Mardi Gras is celebrated from its creation in 1730. Then the governor of Louisiana launches the elegant society balls which become the model of the balls of Mardi Gras of New Orleans today.
One hundred years later, street processions appear with torches, dazzling floats. Today more than 80,000 spectators attend parades, throwing toys, stuffed animals, pearls and more.
Mardi Gras and King Cake go hand in hand, where in New Orleans, hundreds of thousands of King Cakes are tasted each year.
The King Cake contains a small baby (usually plastic, but it is possible that the baby is porcelain or even gold). The lucky person who receives the cake with the baby participates in the next King Cake party (or brings the next cake to the office). It is thought that the tradition of King Cake was brought back from France in the 1870s. Originally, the King Cake was a simple ring of dough with a small amount of decoration.
Once the rich braided and baked dough, the top of the cake is covered with delicious sugar toppings in traditional Mardi Gras colors: purple, green and gold (purple for “justice”, green for “faith” and gold for “power”).
In recent years, many bakeries have been creative in filling their cakes with different flavors of cream cheese and fruit fillings and offering them in different forms.
Mardi Gras in Seattle!
In many restaurants Mardi Gras will be the theme of the evening.
You can go on a cruise for an evening: Mardi Gras Party Cruise.
From 9pm to 11.30pm, take your pearls and masks and celebrate Mardi Gras aboard a yacht.
You can also participate in a race: Mardi Gras Mayhem 5K
With music, pearls or disguises come participate in the race!
Saturday, March 2 at 9:30.
You can also order your cake, the “King Cake” at Petit Pierre Bakery in Magnolia. This is the King Cake New Orleans Style: a cinnamon bun with fondant and tricolor decoration, plus the baby!
If you wish to eat some crepes, there is a crepes party in Cépaé – La Parisienne from 4pm to 10pm on Tuesday, 5th of March.
Matthew
