国王蛋糕：路易斯安那州甜蜜多彩的传统，尤其是在狂欢节期间

这不仅仅是一个蛋糕；它是一个蛋糕。这是一个用面团、糖和一点神秘包裹着的整个故事。国王蛋糕的历史可以追溯到欧洲古代。

The King Cake is a beloved and colorful tradition in Louisiana, especially during Mardi Gras season. But did you know that this isn't just a cake; it's a whole story wrapped in dough, sugar, and a bit of mystery?

国王蛋糕是路易斯安那州深受喜爱且丰富多彩的传统，尤其是在狂欢节期间。但你知道这不仅仅是一个蛋糕吗？这是一个用面团、糖和一点神秘包裹着的整个故事吗？

The history of King Cake traces back to ancient times in Europe. It all started with Epiphany, a Christian holiday celebrated on January 6th. This day marks the arrival of the Three Wise Men to baby Jesus. Europeans would bake a simple cake to celebrate, hiding a small token, like a bean or a coin, inside. Whoever found the token was crowned "king" for the day.

国王蛋糕的历史可以追溯到欧洲古代。这一切都始于主显节，这是 1 月 6 日庆祝的基督教节日。这一天标志着三智者降临婴儿耶稣。欧洲人会烤一个简单的蛋糕来庆祝，并在里面藏一个小标记，比如豆子或硬币。谁找到了令牌，谁就被加冕为当天的“国王”。

Fast forward to the 18th century, and French settlers brought this tradition to Louisiana. Of course, we Louisianans can’t just leave anything plain, we had to jazz it up! The King Cake quickly became a centerpiece of Mardi Gras celebrations, filled with rich traditions and plenty of sugar.

快进到 18 世纪，法国定居者将这一传统带到了路易斯安那州。当然，我们路易斯安那人不能让一切变得简单，我们必须让它变得有趣！国王蛋糕很快成为狂欢节庆祝活动的核心，充满了丰富的传统和大量的糖。

Today’s King Cakes are ring-shaped, symbolizing unity and the never-ending cycle of life. They’re covered in purple, green, and gold sugar, each color has a special meaning: purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. Inside the cake, there's a tiny plastic baby hidden (a nod to the old token tradition). Finding the baby means two things: you’re the "king" for the day, and you’re responsible for bringing the next King Cake to the party!

今天的国王饼是环形的，象征着团结和生命永无休止的循环。它们被紫色、绿色和金色的糖覆盖，每种颜色都有特殊的含义：紫色代表正义，绿色代表信仰，金色代表力量。蛋糕里面隐藏着一个小小的塑料婴儿（这是对古老象征传统的致敬）。找到宝宝意味着两件事：你是当天的“国王”，并且你有责任为聚会带来下一个国王蛋糕！

But here's where it gets really Louisiana. Modern King Cakes aren’t just simple. Oh no! They’re stuffed with everything from cream cheese to praline filling, and some even have crazy toppings like fruit or chocolate drizzle. Bakeries all over Louisiana compete to create the most delicious and creative King Cakes.

但这才是真正的路易斯安那州。现代国王蛋糕并不简单。哦不！它们里面塞满了从奶油奶酪到果仁糖等各种馅料，有些甚至还有水果或巧克力淋等疯狂的配料。路易斯安那州各地的面包店竞相制作最美味、最有创意的国王蛋糕。

So next time you bite into a King Cake, you’re not just enjoying a delicious treat. You’re taking part in a tradition that's centuries old, steeped in history, and uniquely Louisiana. And if you find the baby? Well, you’d better start planning your next party!

因此，下次您咬一口国王蛋糕时，您不仅仅是在享受美味佳肴。您正在参与一个有着数百年历史、历史悠久且具有路易斯安那州特色的传统。如果你找到孩子了呢？好吧，你最好开始计划你的下一次聚会！

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Gallery Credit: Bruce Mikells

图片来源：布鲁斯·米克尔斯