Short History of the Birthday Candle
Photo: Fortepan/ Pohl Pálma /1959
The earliest stories of candles and cakes date back to ancient Greece, when people honored Artemis when celebrating birthdays. Artemis, in Greek mythology, was the goddess of the hunt and was also associated with the stars and, in particular, the moon. They would bake round honey cakes to symbolize the moon. Lit candles would be placed on the cake to represent the reflected light of the moon and their smoke would carry wishes and prayers to the gods who lived in the sky.The cakes offered to Artemis would not be recognizable as the cakes we enjoy today, however. It was around 1600 that cakes changed to being layered, covered in icing, and ornately decorated. At the time, a cake like this required high-quality elements and production, which meant it was a luxury.
It was only in the industrial age (from the 1760s onwards) that mass production made ingredients and equipment cheap enough for the common man.
The first well-documented case of candles being placed on a birthday cake comes from Germany in 1746. A man named Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf held a lavish birthday celebration at his home, which included a large cake with candles stuck into it, the number of candles corresponding to his age.
From there, birthday cakes with candles seem to have spread throughout Germany and then throughout Europe. In fact, in some countries, such as Germany, an extra candle was often placed on the cake to symbolize eternal light. All the candles were then blown out except for this one, which was left to burn out.
It's not clear how or why, but records of the subject began to appear around 1850. This was the decade when birthday celebrations crossed the Atlantic to the United States. For a long time, Americans resisted the tradition, but by the 1850s, the trend had become widespread.
And in 1871, birthday candles arrived in America from Germany. A cake would be decorated with the number of candles equal to the child's age, and as the guests sang hymns, the child would blow out the candles, one by one.
From the 19th century onwards, this tradition became part of our customs. Everyone celebrated their birthday with a cake and candles.
In short, blowing out candles on a birthday cake is an ancient tradition rich in history and meaning. From the ancient Greeks to the present day, the tradition has evolved and spread throughout the world. The candles on the cake represent the light of the moon, the light of the gods, and later came to symbolize eternal light and the celebration of life. Although it is a simple tradition, blowing out the candles is a symbolic gesture that connects us to the past and reminds us to celebrate life with joy and gratitude.
The next time you blow out the candles on your birthday cake, you can appreciate the rich history and meaning behind this simple yet symbolic gesture.