Buzz
Birthday cakes have been a part of our celebrations since ancient Rome, where honoring someone’s birthday with a sweet treat was common. But the origins of lighting a cake on fire? That remains a mystery. Who first turned a cake into a fiery centerpiece?
There are several theories surrounding the origins of birthday candles.
One popular theory is that birthday candles originated in Ancient Greece, where people offered cakes with lit candles at the temple of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. The candles were meant to shine like the moon, a symbol closely linked to Artemis.
Many ancient civilizations believed that smoke from burning offerings carried their prayers up to the gods. The modern tradition of making a wish before blowing out birthday candles might have its origins in this ancient practice.
Another theory suggests that the tradition of birthday candles was popularized by the Germans. In 1746, Count Ludwig Von Zinzindorf threw a grand birthday celebration, which included a massive cake. It was said that the cake was so large that it required holes to be made in it to accommodate candles—one for each year of the birthday person’s age, with one more in the center.
In Germany, the tradition of birthday candles also played a role in Kinderfest, a children's celebration in the 1700s. A single candle was lit on the cake to symbolize the 'light of life.'
