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Mardi Gras Traditions in Fayetteville

FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) — The season of Lent starts tomorrow (Feb. 10) with Ash Wednesday, which means Tuesday night is a time for Mardi Gras celebrations. Th...

FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) -- The season of Lent starts tomorrow (Feb. 10) with Ash Wednesday, which means Tuesday night is a time for Mardi Gras celebrations.

The day before Lent is known as Fat Tuesday, but it's better known as Mardi Gras. There are a lot of traditions associated with the holiday, including an edible one -- a king cake.

King cakes taste kind of like a cinnamon roll, full of cinnamon and sugar, and many have fruit inside of them. They always come in the shape of a ring because that symbolizes unity of people and bringing everyone together.

"I do like the traditions behind Mardi Gras and I have several friends from south Louisiana," said Brandon Weston, an administrative assistant at the University of Arkansas. "I think the fact that Fayetteville has Mardi Gras celebrations really means a lot to them."

Mardi Gras colors cover the cake in purple, green and gold. Purple represents justice, green shows faith and gold is for power.

Inside each cake is a plastic figurine of Jesus. According to tradition, whoever finds Jesus in the cake has to provide the cake the next year.

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