Tradition of birthday cakes and candles

Jun 30
10:20

2015

Jeet Singh

Jeet Singh

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Mankind has learnt to make cakes from time immemorial. They are associated with festivals, celebrations and special occasions. The birthday cake is also an ancient tradition. People have different theories regarding its origins but its most modern precursor is the German festival of Kinderfest.

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Mankind has learnt to make cakes ever since they discovered flour. In olden times cakes were used as an offering to the spirits and gods. Many cultures from all over the world have been creating celebratory ‘cakes’ for thousands of years. They are associated with festivals,Tradition of birthday cakes and candles Articles celebrations and special occasions like weddings, anniversaries and birthdays.

The origin of the birthday cake is still vague but it is obvious that it is an ancient tradition that has been passed down the generations through the ages. Some historians think the custom of the birthday cake originated in ancient Greece. The Greeks celebrate birthday occasions with baked items in the form of honey cakes or bread. And the ancient Romans used to celebrate three different types of birthdays including private celebrations for the citizens, the foundation days of cities and temples, and the birthdays of emperors and other members of the imperial family. They had an exclusive tradition for a 50th year birthday and it was celebrated with a honey cake made of wheat flour, grated cheese, honey, and olive oil.

Other historians are of the consensus that the Birthday Cake tradition originated in Germany in the Middle Ages. The Germans used to make sweetened bread dough in the shape of the baby Jesus in swaddling clothes and they were used to commemorate his birthday. The birthday cake was also used in birthday celebrations for young children and the celebrations were known as Kinderfest. Before the 1400’s, cakes were solely used for weddings but with the popularity of children’s birthday cakes at Kinderfest, German bakeries began to market them for birthdays as well.

In Medieval England, birthday cakes were baked with symbolic objects inside. Objects such as coins and thimbles were mixed into the batter and people believed that the person who found the coin would be wealthy while the unlucky finder of the thimble would remain a bachelor. These traditions can still be seen today in the form of small figures, fake coins and small candies inside birthday cakes.

The tradition of lighting candles on cakes also goes back a thousand of years in religious ceremonies. Later it became become associated with birthdays. The Greeks were also the first to adorn cakes with lit candles. They used to bring cakes to the temple of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt as well as the moon, which were adorned with candles to make them glow like the moon. In ancient times, people used to pray over the flames of an open fire believing that the smoke from the flames carried their thoughts up to the gods. It is also possible that the tradition of our modern “make a wish” sprang from this ancient custom.

Nowadays people believe that if someone blows out all the candles in one breath, their wishes will come true. It is also hard to imagine a modern day birthday celebration without cakes. And nowadays with the rise of online gift shops it is quite easy to arrange an Online Cake Delivery in Delhi or any other city for a birthday occasion. One can also send cakes to Delhi from any corner of the world. And for the best Cakes in Delhi, the most obvious choice is the online gift portals. So on the upcoming occasions of a friend’s or beloved’s birthday, order cake Online in Delhi and have it delivered right to their doorsteps.