How to Have a Mardi Gras Birthday

Colorful masks and beads are just the beginning for Mardi Gras birthday decorations.

Mardi Gras festivities are a time for fun and frivolity before the abstinence of Lent, but such parties do not have to be reserved for Carnival time. Use it as the theme for a birthday party. The trick to turning a Mardi Gras bash into one for a birthday is to turn some of the Mardi Gras traditions on their head to better fit the birthday celebration. You will be successful if your Mardi Gras-themed birthday is true to both honoring the birthday celebrant and keeping the look and fun of a Mardi Gras party.

Things You'll Need

• Mardi Gras beads
• Mardi Gras masks
• Tape
• Purple, green and gold scarves
• Purple, green and gold glitter
• King cake
• Birthday candles

Instructions

1. Hang Mardi Gras beads and Mardi Gras masks from the walls with tape for decorations.

2. Pass out extra masks and beads for the guests to wear during the party.

3. Cover the table with purple, green and gold scarves instead of a tablecloth. These are the official Mardi Gras colors.

4. Sprinkle purple, green and gold glitter over the table to add a shimmer.

5. Substitute a traditional birthday cake with a baked king cake. These ring-shaped cakes are decorated with purple, green and gold sugar or frosting and have a baby or coin baked into the cake. Don't add the trinket to the cake for use as a birthday cake.

6. Insert birthday candles into the king cake to turn it into a birthday cake.

Tips & Warnings

• Stock up on Mardi Gras supplies when they are put into clearance sale bins between Mardi Gras and Easter.

• Look for king cakes in bakeries starting in January or make your own from the recipe in the Resources section.

References

• "Your Unique Wedding: Say "I do" With a Twist"; Kerry McDonald; 2005
• "Celebrate Life!: A Guide for Planning All Night Alcohol – Drug-Free"; Sharon Murphy; 1992
• "Wild Women Throw a Party: 110 Original Recipes and Amazing Menus for Birthday Bashes, Power Showers, Poker Soirees, and Celebrations Galore"; Lynette Rohrer Shirk, et al.; 2007

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Food Network; King Cake Recipe; Emeril Lagasse