Blowing out candles and eating cake on a birthday has become so routine that most of us don’t stop and think about it. Pretty much every birthday party, no matter where in the world you live, will feature these two things. Over thousands of years, this was an ever-changing ritual informed by ancient superstitions, religion, and daily life. It started as a solemn ritual about warding off evil and protecting oneself. It later morphed into a fun way to celebrate growing older.
Birthday candles have an ancient origin
Fire and light have long been thought to possess special powers. This is true of many ancient cultures, who thought fire was able to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.
The Ancient Greeks believed the gods watched people closely on certain days, such as on their birthdays. Light could both be a tribute to these higher forces and a barrier against harmful forces, so candles were used to protect the individual being celebrated. This belief that candles on a birthday cake had the ability to ward off evil is what first made the candles part of the birthday celebration.
Blowing out birthday candles
Blowing out candles on your birthday cake and making a wish comes from an ancient tradition as well. The smoke was thought to help carry the prayer or wish up to the gods. It would then be granted, as long as you blew all the candles out in one breath to show your focus and determination.
This is also likely how the tradition of keeping the wish to yourself came to be. Speaking it out loud was thought to lessen its power. For many ancient cultures, this was a serious thing.
Cake becomes part of the birthday tradition
Cake has not always been the fluffy, soft, and frosty concoction we are familiar with. Birthday “cakes” in ancient times were more similar to sweetened breads and pastries. They were sometimes made with honey, and often included a pinch of nuts or spices.
In fact, historians think the ancient Egyptians were one of the first cultures to actually celebrate birthdays in a meaningful way. However, these were only for pharaohs and other important people.
In Ancient Greece, people would bake round honey cakes to honor Artemis, goddess of the moon. Candles were sometimes used to top these cakes, to make them appear to be giving off a glow, like the moon. Sweet cakes began to become a symbol for happiness and good fortune, and eventually became connected with birthday celebrations.
Europe changes the birthday tradition
In Europe, particularly Germany, is where the modern birthday traditions really take shape. In the 18th century, German families would celebrate their child’s birthday with a Kinderfest. A cake was baked for the child with one candle for every year they had lived, and sometimes an extra candle would be included for good luck in the coming year.
The candles were left lit for most of the day. And as part of the celebration, the child was allowed to blow them out at once while making a wish. This tradition was still quite similar to how we do it today. It was an important one that helped to further the popularity of the custom across Europe, and eventually the rest of the world.
The meaning of birthday candles and cake today
For most people in the world, the candles and cake you blow out no longer have their original, deep religious meanings. However, what it has become instead is a symbol of happiness, togetherness, and celebration. Families and friends gather around, sing, laugh, and make the birthday person feel special in a moment that is passed down from generation to generation.
The following sources were consulted in the preparation of this article:
