Thanks to ALL of you who sent birthday wishes my way as I reached my latest milestone!
I was looking through old photos, and I found this gem from a party long ago. I have no idea who’s birthday we were about to celebrate, but judging from the number of candles it was nobody in our immediate family. (Or maybe we just decided to light all the candles we had in the house!)
Because, after all, who doesn’t love blowing out birthday candles? And that picture started me thinking…how did cake and candles become the norm to celebrate birthdays?
I found a website called ProFlowers http://www.proflowers.com/blog/origin-of-birthday-cake-and-birthday-candles? that seems to have the answers.
Research tells me birthday cakes may have originated in Germany. In fact the first actual birthday cake is said to have been made in the Middle Ages! Germans used to celebrate children’s birthdays with cake…and they called the celebration Kinderfest.
It seems cake was only available to the wealthy at first. (Remember that quote “Let them eat cake”?) but by the 18th century baking utensils and food were more accessible for the masses.
Some people believe the idea of putting candles on birthday cakes may have started in Ancient Greece. The website says “the lit candles on the cake represented the glow of the moon, and the smoke from the candles carried their prayers and wishes to the gods who lived in the skies.”
And who hasn’t made a wish before blowing out all those candles? The legend says your wish won’t come true if you tell anyone else..so mum’s the word!
I must say, the older I get, the bigger the chance I won’t be able to blow out all those candles in one breath. And I might set off the smoke detectors as I try to light them. But I’ve been blessed to live another year, and I’ve watched our grandchildren grow and flourish. So I’m always happy to add one more candle to my cake.
But I must admit I do keep the fire department phone number on speed dial.
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