Celebrating King’s Day: A New Orleans Tradition

Although, many people outside of New Orleans believe Mardi Gras begins and ends on Fat Tuesday. King’s Day, also known as Twelfth Night, is the official kick-off for Mardi Gras season. Historically, King's Day marks the twelfth night after the Christmas holiday and is celebrated in several ways including feasting on a dessert bread, which is known as King Cake. From King’s Day to Mardi Gras, New Orleanians will be enjoying the festive season with wonderful traditions such as going to several parades, attending fun gatherings, and of course, indulging in lots of King Cake. 

Every Twelfth Night begins with a press conference and king cake party hosted by the mayor at historic Gallier Hall. Representatives of all 33 parade krewes in the city attend this event to toast the official start of Mardi Gras. On the evening of Twelfth Night, the Krewe de Jeanne d'Arc foot parade strolls through the French Quarter, and Phunny Phorty Phellows partake in their inaugural streetcar ride commencing the start of parade season. The Twelfth Night Revelers, the city’s second-oldest Carnival organization, host an exclusive ball at the Orpheum Theater, where cake slices with hidden gold and silver beans are distributed to young ladies to determine the krewe’s queen. Whoever receives the golden bean is declared queen, while the remaining women who receive silver beans serve as maids in her majesty’s court. Lastly, a Mardi Gras-themed fireworks show is held alongside the Moonwalk. 

King’s Day is a grand celebration in New Orleans with immense historical significance. It’s more than a day where New Orleanians feast on king cake or place their holiday trees outside for disposal. King’s Day is the commencement of our city's favorite time of the year to let the good times roll!