Birthday cake traditions from history

It is only logical and birthdays are the most important occasions in anyone’s life. It is the day a person came to life and to this world. Birthdays mark new beginnings, renewals and hope and birthday celebrations are celebrations of life itself. Birthdays are one of the most popular life events celebrated all over the world. They are joyous occasions filled with lots of wishes, cheers and gifts.

The tradition of birthday celebrations goes back deep in history. It is considered that the earliest birthday celebrations were held as a means to ward off evil spirits which supposedly were particularly attracted to people on their birthdays. People would gather together with the birthday celebrant in the hope of keeping him or her away from the evil spirits. To protect the Birthday celebrant from harm, friends and family would come along with gifts such as “Noisemakers” were also used at birthday parties as a way of scaring away the evil spirits. It is also believed that the gifts, prayers and wishes of the guests were effective against the spirits.

Traditionally it was only the rulers, the rich and privileged class who were recognized as important enough to have a birthday celebration. In Ancient Rome, people enthusiastically celebrated the birthdays of rulers and foundation dates of cities and temples with lavish parties and generous presents. As time went by, common people also began to celebrate their birthdays. And the tradition of children's birthday parties is considered to have first started in Germany at the festival of Kinderfest.  The Germans baked cakes at Kinderfest in the shape of baby Jesus and from there the origins of the birthday cakes too can be traced.  The custom of lighting candles on birthday cakes originated with superstitions of the age as people believed that the smoke from the candles would lift their prayer to the gods who were supposed to live above. When people blow out the candles and make a wish it is another way of sending a signal or a message.

 Many cultures all over the world have their own distinctive birthday traditions. The Buddhists celebrates the anniversary of Buddha's birth while the Sikhs celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the founder of their religion, Guru Nanak. People in China celebrate their birthday on New Year’s Day. In Canada, birthday boys and girls are “ambushed” and their noses greased with butter in order to ward off bad luck. The Bible also mentions the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The three Magi came bearing gifts for the new born Jesus and for nearly 2,000 years, the Christian world has honored the birth of Jesus as Christmas.

Modern day birthday celebrations are a culmination of different traditions that has filtered down the ages from all over the world.  The birthday celebrations may differ in style and traditions may vary from one culture to another but the essence of the celebrations remains the same. Birthdays are celebrations of life and the joy of it. They are memorable occasions meant to be spent with our near and dear ones. Married couples also celebrate birthdays together with exclusive birthday gifts for wife or husband. And a Birthday cake delivery is the most ideal gift for birthday celebrations in a marital relationship.