Monday, February 8, 2016

T Stands For Mardi Gras

Those of you who have been sharing tea with me for several years will probably remember this photo I used to welcome Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) during Tuesday Tea a few years ago.

Same cup, similar beads, different backdrop, and most assuredly a different camera.

I have no King Cake, the traditional cinnamon laced, often fruit or cream cheese stuffed Danish pastry that is braided, then iced in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold.  Hidden in each King Cake is a tiny plastic baby. The person who finds the baby must buy the next King Cake or host the next party.  My plastic babies are floating in my green tea, which of course, I won't be drinking, but show symbolically.

Do you have the Mardi Gras spirit?  Will "Fat Tuesday" be the day before you fast?  Whether you celebrate Mardi Gras or not, please share your T stories below.  Feel free to show your King Cakes, plastic baby dolls, or beads.  The photos don't have to be taken on Tuesday, and it's fairly obvious, they can even be taken from your archives, as one of mine has been today.  Please use the direct link to your T post, not your blog, so we can find you easily.  And, celebrate it or not, have a great Mardi Gras.




27 thoughtful remarks:

Karla B said...

It's Carnival here, my friend so let's have fun!

Linda Kunsman said...

Well you certainly have put me in the Mardi Gras spirit Elizabeth!! Don't know why I never give much thought to it-just stuck on Valentines I guess:):)Perhaps for next year I'll make a special King's cake with a little baby tucked in. Bonne fête!

Carol said...

We don't do any Mardi Gras celebrating here but your beads and tea sure look good.

~*~Patty S said...

I must agree with Linda!
Your celebration looks so festive and inviting E.
I too was looking ahead a bit with he♥rts on my mind.
Happy T Day
and Happy Fat Tuesday
oxo

Sandra Cox said...

I love these pictures, Elizabeth! They are so pretty and delicate. I'm not sure I knew about the baby in the pastry,so thanks for sharing.
Have a great week!

Valerie-Jael said...

Love your Mardi Gras photos, and the pretty beads. Thanks for explaining the traditions there. Here in the town carnival is celebrated with big processions on Monday - which were cancelled yesterday because of the gales - and today is traditionally where you eat pastries deep fried in fat, to use up all the egg, fat etc before Lent. A lot of people will go to Church on Wednesday to get an ash-cross on their foreheads before they begin their lenten fast. Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie

Helen said...

never heard this tradition about Mardi Gras. It's certainly carnival time at Kew though with their themed annual orchid display this year, I went on Saturday if you want to look!

johanna said...

carnival is a big issue here (well, not for me), but this year many of the street parades were cancelled because of a big storm.
nice colorful photos, elizabeth!

froebelsternchen said...

Your celebration today looks just awesome!
I am not the big fan of carnival - so I negate it since many years. Here where I live it's not a really big theme as well. Good for me!
Happy T-Day Elizabeth!
oxo
Susi

Lisca said...

I'd heard of Mardis Gras, associating it with carnival. And knowing French i knew it meant 'fat Tuesday', but never drew the link if you know what I mean. Thanks for explaining.
Here in Spain they do carnival, but not being a catholic I don't participate in that. There will be processions and big parties here in the village. there is a huge marquee erected in the town square. I thought it might be for Valentine's day but now i realize it will be for carnival.
Your photo is colorful. Again I didn't know that were the carnival colors.
It all ties in with perfectly with our diets. My DH and I have started a diet this weekend of healthy eating and (for me only for health reasons) wheat free. No wine, no caffeine, no sugar. Lots of fruit and veg and 5 small meals a day. I'm feeling much better on it. We do it every year.
Enjoy your Mardis Gras celebrations,
Lisca

Frannyaitch said...

We have pancake day on Shrove Tuesday and fill ourselves with pancakes to sustain us during the lent fast. We don't fast for 40 days but do give up something we like during that time, like coffee or chocolate. Thanks for sharing your story of the King Cakes, I think it is fascinating to here what other people do.

voodoo vixen said...

It is Shrove Tuesday here... or Pancake Day! Yummmm... we make pancakes to use up all the yummy stuff before Lent. I am a little concerned for the wee little pink babies floating in hot tea!! LOL Love that you have a camera that gives you such nice photos now... the comparison is amazing! My camera battery died on me this morning so I have fuzzy photos off my phone... we have reversed roles!

My name is Erika. said...

That is one festive tea cup! Are you doing anything for Fat Tuesday? I've never had a king cake but would be interested to try one. I didn't know about the babies either, we're kind of far away from Mardi Gras up here and being a bunch of cold blooded Yankees it isn't much of a celebration up here. But it is always fun to discover and learn new things. Happy T day!

Craftymoose Crafts said...

I hope those pink babies started out that way and are not getting "tea burned" :)
No big celebration here either--this time of year, I think more of Lent and what it means than gorging before a fast. Besides, I did enough of that on Superbowl Sunday!

Your camera photos are remarkable! I don't think I realized with the "bad" camera just how bad they were!

Thanks for sharing your new colorful photo on T Tuesday!

Darla said...

Looks like you are ready to celebrate. I had to look twice at those floating babies. At first I thought they were small flower blossoms. Your photos look really great.

Dianne said...

your photo made me smile....we were at a Mardi Gras parade on Saturday night, and the frenzy to collect beads from the passing floats is always entertaining! it does seem a bit disturbing to be having plastic babies in your tea though! lol...enjoy your day dear...I am in Florida as we speak, with gorgeous sunshine... enjoying family. Wish i could send you some of the warmer weather! Happy T Day and Fat Tuesday!

Divers and Sundry said...

Happy Mardi Gras!!! Love those beads :)

Dianne said...

sorry for #13--incorrect link-- using a device that's not mine and I messed up my first attempt! the second link is correct. Elizabeth, if you know how to remove it, go for it. I couldn't figure it out... ;(

Jeanie said...

I don't know why but something about babies swimming around in a pool of tea really cheered me up today, which sounds a little warped but hey, it's Tuesday! Must dig out my mardi-beads today!

Halle said...

I didn't remember that about the King Cake. Although I'm not very versed on Mardi Gras anyway.
Happy T day!!

Krisha said...

I remember these photos. I love the way the beads reflect the light.
No dancing in the streets here, most people don't even know about "Fat Tuesday".......demographics make the difference, but we sure do up Cinco De Mayo!!

Happy T-day

jinxxxygirl said...

I'm a little late to the party Ms. Elizabeth and i may be a little late visiting everyone but i'm HERE!!! :) What a difference your new camera makes! Love the babies floating in the tea... :) We don't celebrate mardi gras... but it sure does look like fun doesn't it! Happy happy Tday! Hugs! deb

Janet said...

Oh, no! I forgot to post something drink related today! But I'm visiting anyway. Love your tea cup and the beads. I've never had a King Cake but it sounds delicious.

Ariel said...

Yes! I remember that picture. Thank you for sharing these facts on Mardi Gras. It's all new to me.
Happy Tuesday Elizabeth

Hettie said...

Happy T Day and Mardi Gras!!
Those little babies are a little scary floating in your tea!!
Hugs
xx

Blogoratti said...

Must be loads of fun. Warm greetings!

pearshapedcrafting said...

Sorry not to have got here for this celebration! I knew I wouldn't be able to get round to visit everyone -hopefully I'll be here next week! We did get out for lunch though - to the dining room on site -the chef is very good and it was great to meet up with a few friends! Hugs, Chrisx