If you grew up in South Louisiana, chances are your first adolescent boy-girl dance party was, in fact, a king cake party at someone’s home.
A crowd of kids from school and young neighbors and cousins of the host showed up. The living room lights were replaced with seasonal purple, green, and gold bulbs. Parents contributed chips, dips, sodas, and other snacks, and someone manned the music selections. Everyone wore strands of Mardi Gras beads that rattled and clicked when the slightly awkward dancing began.
