Regardless of whether somebody is turning 4 or 68, it’s not a birthday party without a cake – and such has been the tradition for as long as most people can remember. While we all agree cakes are the epitome of most birthday celebrations, have you ever wondered why that is so? What more is there to know about this tradition that started thousands of years ago in Ancient Egypt and later in Ancient Greece? This piece answers these questions and more.
Where It All Started
There have been conflicting opinions and theories regarding where the birthday cake culture came from. However, the version that is agreed upon by most historians is one that it originated from Ancient Egypt. In the Bible, more specifically, Genesis chapter 40 verse 20 talks about the Pharaoh’s birthday on the third day, when he held a huge feast and lifted the head of the chief butler and chief baker.
Our opinions on religion aside, the mention of a birthday celebration in the Bible, one of the oldest texts, shows the tradition has been around for quite some time. The fact that Ancient Egyptians were the first civilizations to create the calendar makes this information more credible. Obviously, without a calendar, people couldn’t celebrate birthdays.
Fast forward a few centuries later, the Ancient Greek Empire was formed. Interestingly, this civilization didn’t just celebrate birthdays like the Ancient Egyptians; they introduced the concept of birthday cakes.
Who Developed the Culture of Birthday Cakes?
According to Greek beliefs, candles helped propel messages to heaven. This is why the Greeks would light candles when praying at the temples and hope the smoke delivers their message to the gods. During that period, Greek women would bake round cakes from dough and add sesame seeds and honey to make them sweet. They would then place candles on the cake and take them to the temple for prayers.
Their prayers would mainly be aimed at Athena, the goddess of wisdom. At the time, birthdays were celebrated by kings and gods; it was the Romans who began celebrating birthdays for ordinary people. In Rome, birthdays would be held for all family members including children and the elderly. The Romans were so big on birthday celebrations that they invented the golden birthday year. When someone turned 50, they would get a special cake made out of honey, yeast, nuts, and wheat flour to celebrate them.
The Popularization of Birthday Cakes
The Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans may have developed the concept of birthday cakes, but it’s the German bakers that popularized them. Although these professionals had already conquered the wedding industry by ensuring each celebration had a cake, they were still looking for ways of maximizing profits.
They figured that weddings only happen once in a person’s lifetime. On the other hand, birthdays would occur every year, making it a more profitable venture.
Because birthdays were mostly celebrated by royalty and were associated with gods, German bakers targeted kids as their ideal market. They easily succeeded with this as kids were viewed as gifts from God, so there weren’t any obstacles. More Germans embraced the idea of birthday cakes for children.
The Start of Kinderfest and Its Influence on Making Birthday Cakes a Tradition
The campaign by the German bakers was so successful that it resulted in Kinderfest, a tradition almost similar to modern-day birthday parties. In Kinderfest, parents who could afford it would surprise their children on the morning of their birthdays with a cake and candles representing the child’s age plus one more year. The extra candle was to wish the child a healthier and prosperous year. Kids were asked to blow all the candles as a sign of good health. However, the cake would only be eaten at the end of the day.
Kids who enjoyed Kinderfest carried the tradition into their adult lives and passed it on to their younger generations. Remember, in the 15th century, Kinderfest was a tradition practiced by the wealthy. So, not all children enjoyed the luxury of blowing out candles and eating cake on their birthdays.
However, something amazing happened during the Industrial Revolution; Norbert Rillieux invented the Sugar Evaporation System that would turn sugar cane juice into sugar. This led to the mass production of sugar, significantly reducing its price.
The people who could not afford to bake cakes now had all the ingredients at their disposal – every man, woman, and child could get a cake for their birthday. This further propelled the popularity of birthday cakes. It was during the Industrial Revolution that bakeries started making pre-made cakes at very decent prices.
The Role of Birthday Cakes in the Modern Times
Besides having an intriguing history, birthday cakes today symbolize the sweetness of life. The blowing of candles is done to portray health and well-being. As one makes a wish, the smoke directs the message to the heavens. Also, sharing a cake is an excellent way of celebrating with close friends and loved ones. The tradition is now more common than ever.