Most of us sat through the Miracle of Life in 7th grade health class so I think we have a grasp on where real babies come from, but what about fake plastic King Cake Babies?

I ask because I just got my second king cake baby in a row today. Other than a realization that I need to lay off the sweets, this made me wonder… Where do these tiny plastic miracles come from? Who’s there daddy? A little research into these choking hazards covered in sweet doughy goodness revealed a long and dignified history:

The King Cake has its roots in pre-Christian religions of Western Europe. Part of the Harvest celebrations that the pagans practiced was the sacrifice ritual. It was customary to choose a man to be the “sacred king” of the tribe for a year. That man would be treated like a king for a year, then he would be sacrificed, and his blood returned to the soil to ensure that the harvest would be successful. The method of choosing who would have the honor of being the sacred king was the purpose of the King’s Cake. Several men of the tribe would eat the cake. A coin or bean would be placed in the cake before baking, and whoever got the slice that had the coin was the “chosen one.”

French settlers brought the custom to Louisiana in the 18th century where it remained associated with the Epiphany until the 19th century when it became a more elaborate Mardi Gras custom. In New Orleans, the first cake of the season was served January 6. A small ceramic figurine of a baby was hidden in the cake. Whoever found the baby was allowed to choose a mock court and host the next King Cake party the following week. (MardiGraDigest.com)

For those of you who have not yet indulged in this tasty New Orleans tradition, a few local favorites include Randazzo’s, Haydel’s Bakery, and Swiss Confectionary. Most of them ship these days too. Just remember, you may have to fork over some cash to pick up the next King Cake, but hey, at least your office mates won’t sacrifice you to the harvest!