Every year on January 6, Carnival Season officially kicks off with the Feast of the Epiphany, so Mardi Gras 2015 has officially begun!

According to Catholic traditions, the Three Kings visited the baby Jesus on January 6, and the European tradition of baking cakes in recognition of the kings evolved into the deliciously perfect King Cakes that are popping up all across New Orleans today.

From now until the NOPD clears Bourbon Street at midnight on Mardi Gras Day, eating king cake at any time of the day will be not only socially acceptable, but highly recommended.

The best way to cure the consequences of a long night of partying is a cup of strong chicory coffee and a slice of king cake, not that anyone reading this will party too hard this Mardi Gras.

To celebrate the beginning of Mardi Gras 2015, the Phunny Phorty Phellows will roll down the St. Charles streetcar line tonight, and the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc will parade in the French Quarter.

And of course, with the start of Mardi Gras comes the return of the classic Carnival anthems of New Orleans, which you can and should listen to on a regular basis until February 17.

In the immortal words of Al “Carnival Time” Johnson:

“Right now it’s Carnival Time, and everybody’s having fun.”