John Magill, New Orleans’ historian, picks up where he left off in the previous podcast. John draws upon his seemingly unending store of knowledge to offer insights about the history and cultural traditions of Carnival in New Orleans. For anyone who has ever wondered how that little pink baby came to be in our king cakes, John has the answer. He also puts to bed the long held myth that the king cake baby represents the infant Jesus. John offers perspectives on past Mardi Gras days, and he recalls the only time—other than during a World War—that Carnival Krewes did not parade. However, he is quick to point out that celebrations on that Mardi Gras day went on as planned in the French Quarter, parades or no parades. For out-of-town listeners, John will let you in on a secret and disclose who pays for Mardi Gras.
Listen to the podcast here.
