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{{short description|dessert served to celebrate a birthday}} {{Short description|Dessert served to celebrate a birthday}}
{{About|the tradition}} {{About|the tradition}}
{{Refimprove|date=June 2017}} {{More citations needed|date=June 2017}}
]
{{Infobox prepared food
A '''birthday cake''' is a ] eaten as part of a ] celebration. While there is no standard for birthday cakes, they are typically highly ] layer cakes covered in ], often featuring birthday wishes ("Happy birthdays") and the celebrant's name. In many cultures, it is also customary to serve the birthday cake with small lit candles on top, especially in the case of a child's birthday. The cake often accompanies the singing of "]". Variations include ]s, ]s, ], and ]s.
| name = Birthday cake
| image = Birthday cake (8973445388).jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = A specialty birthday cake
| alternate_name =
| country = Several ]an countries
| region =
| creator =
| course =
| type = ]
| served =
| main_ingredient =
| variations =
| calories =
| other =
}}

A '''birthday cake''' is a ] eaten as part of a ] celebration in many world traditions. Variations of the typical birthday cake include birthday ]s, ]s, ], and ]s. While there is not a universal standard regarding taste, birthday cakes are often vanilla-, chocolate-, or strawberry-flavored. They are also baked in a variety of shapes and decorated in one color or multiple colors with ] or ].


==History== ==History==
] {{ill|Pancraz Körle|de}}.]] ] Pancraz Körle.]]
Birthday cakes have been a part of birthday celebrations in Western European countries since the middle of the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newenglandrecipes.org/html/birthday-cake.html|title=Birthday Cakes: History & Recipes - Online article with an extensive bibliography}}</ref> However, the link between cakes and birthday celebrations may date back to ancient Roman times. Birthday cakes have been a part of birthday celebrations in Western European countries since the middle of the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newenglandrecipes.org/html/birthday-cake.html|title=Birthday Cakes: History & Recipes – Online article with an extensive bibliography}}</ref> However, the link between cakes and birthday celebrations may date back to ancient Roman times; in ], cakes were occasionally served at special birthdays and at ]s. These were circles made from flour and nuts, leavened with yeast, and sweetened with honey.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Humble |first=Nicola |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qclZyk87j_EC&q=cake%3A+a+global+history&pg=PA19 |title=Cake: A Global History |date=2010-05-15 |publisher=Reaktion Books |isbn=978-1-86189-730-5 |language=en}}</ref>

In ], 'cakes' were occasionally served at special birthdays and at ]s. These were flat circles made from flour and nuts, leavened with yeast, and sweetened with honey.

In the 15th century, bakeries in Germany began to market one-layer cakes for customers' birthdays as opposed to only marketing cakes for weddings, and thus the modern birthday cake was born.{{cn|date=April 2017}} During the 17th century, the birthday cake took on its contemporary form. These elaborate 17th century cakes had many aspects of the contemporary birthday cake, like multiple layers, icing, and decorations. However, these cakes were only available to the very wealthy. Birthday cakes became accessible to the lower class as a result of the industrial revolution and the spread of more materials and goods.


In Germany by the 18th century, the tradition of celebrating birthdays with a birthday cake and candles began. One of the most notable occasions where using a birthday cake with candles took form was during Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf of Marienborn's birthday party in 1746 in Germany.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Gage |first=Mary |date=2012 |title=Birthday Cakes: History & Recipes |url=https://mobile.newenglandrecipes.org/Birthday-Cake.pdf |journal=New England Recipes |pages=1}}</ref> His cake was said to be as big as an oven could make it, with candles stuck in it, marking the years of his age.<ref name=":1" /> From the 18th century, elaborate cakes continued to take form, having many aspects of the contemporary birthday cake, like multiple layers, icing, and decorations. However, these cakes were only available to the very wealthy. Birthday cakes became accessible to the lower class as a result of the industrial revolution and the spread of more materials and goods.
==Contemporary rites==
]
The cake, pastry, or dessert is served to a person on their birthday. In contemporary Western cultures, the cake is topped with one or more lit candles, which the celebrated individual attempts to blow out.


==Birthday candles and contemporary rites==
There is no standard for birthday cakes, though the "]" song is often sung while the cake is served in English-speaking countries, or an equivalent birthday song in the appropriate language of the country. The phrase "happy birthday" did not appear on birthday cakes until the song "Happy Birthday to You" was popularized in the early 1900s. Variations of birthday songs and rituals exist in different parts of the world. In Uruguay, party guests touch the person's shoulder or head following the singing of "Happy Birthday to You". In ], the person whose birthday it is will take a large bite of the birthday cake before it is served. In ], guests used to sing "Happy Birthday to You" first in English with the name of the individual whose birthday it is, then in Spanish, later they sing any other song in Spanish regarding cake or date, finally blowing candles and serving the ].


]
The birthday cake is often ] with small candles, secured with special holders or simply pressed down into the cake. The cake can also be served with other sweets such as ice cream. In the UK, North America and Australia, the number of candles is equal to the age of the individual whose birthday it is, sometimes with one extra for luck. Traditionally, the person whose birthday it is makes a wish, which is thought to come true if all the candles are extinguished in a single breath.
]
The practice of serving cake on birthdays is commonplace in many cultures. In contemporary Western cultures, birthday cakes for children are often topped with candles, secured with special holders or simply pressed down into the outer frosting. In the Anglosphere, the number of candles often corresponds to the age of the individual being celebrated, occasionally with one extra for luck.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Marcus |first1=Ivan G. |title=The Jewish Life Cycle: Rites of Passage from Biblical to Modern Times |date=1 March 2012 |publisher=University of Washington Press |isbn=978-0-295-80392-0 |page=120 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sCFk8wNDfuMC |language=en}}</ref> An increasingly popular alternative is to use candles shaped as the numeral digits of the celebrant's age. ] may also be used alongside or instead of the traditional wax candles.


The cake is usually presented with all the candles lit, at which point it is customary for the guests to sing ] in unison, or an equivalent birthday song appropriate to the country. Upon the conclusion of the song, the celebrant is traditionally prompted to blow out the candles and make a wish, which is thought to come true if all the candles are extinguished in a single breath. Another common superstition holds that the wish must be made in silence, not to be shared with anyone else, or else it will not come true.<ref name=Atlantic2017-07-27/><ref name=TheIndependent2017-07-31/><ref name=FoodAndWine2017-07-28/>
To represent a sharing of joy and a sense of togetherness, the cake is shared amongst all the guests attending the party.


==Candles and theories of origin== ===Theories of origin===
{{See also|History of candle making}} {{See also|History of candle making}}
Though the exact origin of the birthday candle ritual is unknown, there are multiple theories which try to explain this tradition.
]
Though the exact origin and significance of the candle blowing ritual is unknown, there are multiple theories which try to explain this tradition.


One theory explaining the tradition of placing candles on birthday cakes is attributed to the early Greeks, who used candles to honor the goddess ]' birth on the sixth day of every lunar month. The link between her oversight of fertility and the birthday tradition of candles on cakes, however, has not been established.<ref>{{cite conference|title=Cake:The Centrepiece of Celebrations|last1=Rusinek|first1=Marietta|date=2012|publisher=Prospect Books|book-title=Celebration: Proceedings of the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery 2011|pages=308–315|location=Oxford}}</ref>
===Greek origin story===
One theory explaining the tradition of placing candles on birthday cakes is attributed to the early Greeks, who used candles to honor the goddess Artemis' birth on the sixth day of every lunar month.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} The link between her oversight of fertility and the birthday tradition of candles on cakes, however, has not been established.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}


===Pagan origin story===
] ]
In 18th century Germany, the history of candles on cakes can be traced back to Kinderfest, a birthday celebration for children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://germanhausbarn.com/?page_id=70%7ctitle=Germanhausbarn|title=Keeping the Legacy|work=German Hausbarn|access-date=2015-08-12|archive-date=2016-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005111705/http://germanhausbarn.com/?page_id=70%7ctitle=Germanhausbarn|url-status=dead}}</ref> This tradition also makes use of candles and cakes. German children were taken to an auditorium-like space. There, they were free to celebrate another year in a place where Germans believed that adults protected children from the evil spirits attempting to steal their souls. In those times there was no tradition of bringing gifts to a birthday; guests would merely bring good wishes for the birthday person. However, if a guest did bring gifts it was considered to be a good sign for the person whose birthday it was. Later, flowers became quite popular as a birthday gift.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tokenz.com/history-of-birthday.html|title=History of Birthdays|access-date=2013-11-04|archive-date=2020-01-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130180039/http://www.tokenz.com/history-of-birthday.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* In 1746, a large birthday festival was held for Count ] at Marienborn near ]. Andrew Frey described the party in detail and mentions, "there was a Cake as large as any Oven could be found to bake it, and Holes made in the Cake according to the Years of the Person's Age, every one having a Candle stuck into it, and one in the Middle."<ref>{{Cite book|title = A true and authentic account of Andrew Frey. Containing the occasion of his coming among the ... Moravians . Transl|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=VIoUAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA15|date = 1753-01-01|language = en|first = Andreas|last = Frey}}</ref>
* ], having spent 24–30 August 1801 in ] as a guest of ], recounts of his 52nd birthday on 28 August: "when it was time for dessert, the prince's entire livery in full regalia entered, led by the majordomo. He carried a generous-size torte with colorful flaming candles – amounting to some fifty candles – that began to melt and threatened to burn down, instead of there being enough room for candles indicating upcoming years, as is the case with children's festivities of this kind."<ref>Shirley Cherkasky: ''Birthday Cakes and Candles'', . Goethe's ''Tag- und Jahreshefte'' 1801 http://www.zeno.org/nid/20004859979</ref> As the excerpt indicates, the tradition at the time was to place one candle on the cake for each year of the individual's life, so that the number of candles on top of the cake would represent the age which some one had reached; sometimes a birthday cake would have some added candles 'indicating upcoming years.'


A reference to the tradition of blowing out the candles was documented in Switzerland in 1881. Researchers for the ''Folk-Lore Journal'' recorded various "superstitions" among the Swiss middle class. One statement depicted a birthday cake as having lighted candles which correspond to each year of life. These candles were required to be blown out, individually, by the person who is being celebrated.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Folk-lore Journal|url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_pE4KAAAAIAAJ|page = |publisher = Folk-lore Society|date = 1883-01-01|language = en}}</ref>
The use of fire in certain rites dates back to the creation of altars. Birthday candles are said to hold symbolic power.<ref>(The Lore of Birthdays (New York, 1952), Ralph and Adelin Linton, pp. 8, 18-20.)</ref>


=== Bacteriology ===
In the past it was believed that evil spirits visited people on their birthdays and that, to protect the person whose birthday it was from evil, people must surround the individual and make them merry. Party-goers made noise to scare away evil spirits.
In June 2017 researchers at ] reported that some individuals deposit a large number of bacteria onto the cake frosting when blowing out the candles.<ref name="TheIndependent2017-07-31" /><ref name="FoodAndWine2017-07-28" /><ref name="FoodResearch" /> They found that on average, the act increased the amount of bacteria by 14 times, but one of the researchers described this as "not a big health concern".<ref name="Atlantic2017-07-27" />


==By culture==
===German origin story===
{{more citations needed|section|date=March 2024}}
]
There are many variations of sweets which are eaten around the world on birthdays. Different cultures have different unique birthday cake traditions.
In 18th century Germany, the history of candles on cakes can be traced back to Kinderfest, a birthday celebration for children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://germanhausbarn.com/?page_id=70%7ctitle=Germanhausbarn|title=Keeping the Legacy|work=German Hausbarn}}</ref> This tradition also makes use of candles and cakes. German children were taken to an auditorium-like space. There, they were free to celebrate another year in a place where Germans believed that adults protected children from the evil spirits attempting to steal their souls. In those times there was no tradition of bringing gifts to a birthday; guests would merely bring good wishes for the birthday person. However, if a guest did bring gifts it was considered to be a good sign for the person whose birthday it was. Later, flowers became quite popular as a birthday gift.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tokenz.com/history-of-birthday.html|title=History of Birthdays}}</ref>
* In 1746, a large birthday festival was held for Count ] at Marienborn near ]. Andrew Frey described the party in detail and mentions, "there was a Cake as large as any Oven could be found to bake it, and Holes made in the Cake according to the Years of the Person’s Age, every one having a Candle stuck into it, and one in the Middle."<ref>{{Cite book|title = A true and authentic account of Andrew Frey. Containing the occasion of his coming among the ... Moravians . Transl|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=VIoUAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA15|date = 1753-01-01|language = en|first = Andreas|last = Frey}}</ref>
* ], having spent 24-30 August 1801 in ] as a guest of ], recounts of his 52nd birthday on 28 August: "... when it was time for dessert, the prince's entire livery in full regalia entered, led by the majordomo. He carried a generous-size torte with colorful flaming candles - amounting to some fifty candles - that began to melt and threatened to burn down, instead of there being enough room for candles indicating upcoming years, as is the case with children's festivities of this kind."<ref>Shirley Cherkasky: ''Birthday Cakes and Candles'', . "Meinen eintretenden Geburtstag wollte man mit gnädiger Aufmerksamkeit bei einem solchen geschlossenen Mahle feiern; schon an den gewöhnlichen Gängen sah man einigen Unterschied; beim Nachtisch aber trat nun die sämtliche Livree des Prinzen in stattlich gekleidetem Zug herein, voran der Haushofmeister; dieser trug eine große, von bunten Wachsstöcken flammende Torte, deren ins Halbhundert sich belaufende Anzahl einander zu schmelzen und zu verzehren drohte, anstatt daß bei Kinderfeierlichkeiten der Art noch Raum genug für nächstfolgende Lebenskerzen übrigbleibt." Goethe's ''Tag- und Jahreshefte'' 1801 http://www.zeno.org/nid/20004859979</ref> As the excerpt indicates, the tradition at the time was to place one candle on the cake for each year of the individual's life, so that the number of candles on top of the cake would represent the age which some one had reached; sometimes a birthday cake would have some added candles 'indicating upcoming years.'


===Swiss origin story=== === Chinese ===
The Chinese birthday pastry is the {{transliteration|zh|shòu bāo}} ({{zh|t=壽包|s=寿包}}) or {{transliteration|zh|shòu táo bāo}} ({{zh|t=壽桃包|s=寿桃包|link=no}}), a lotus-paste-filled bun made of wheat flour and shaped and colored to resemble a peach. Rather than serving one large pastry, each guest is served their own small {{transliteration|zh|shòu bāo}}.
A reference to the tradition of blowing out the candles was documented in Switzerland in 1881. Researchers for the ''Folk-Lore Journal'' recorded various "superstitions" among the Swiss middle class. One statement depicted a birthday cake as having lighted candles which correspond to each year of life. These candles were required to be blown out, individually, by the person who is being celebrated.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Folk-lore Journal|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=pE4KAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA380#v=onepage&q&f=false|publisher = Folk-lore Society|date = 1883-01-01|language = en}}</ref>


=== Russian and Lithuanian ===
==Birthday cakes in different cultures==
In Western Russia, birthday children are served fruit pies with a birthday greeting carved into the crusts. As well in Russia and Lithuania, rather than a birthday cake, Russian adolescents receive a pie with a sweet birthday message that is illustrated with icing on top of the birthday pie.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Redlich |first=Orly |date=2020 |title=The Concept of Birthday: A Theoretical, Historical, and Social Overview, in Judaism and Other Cultures |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344327597 |journal=World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences |volume=14 |issue=14 |pages=791–800 |via=International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation}}</ref>
There are many variations of sweets which are eaten around the world on birthdays. The Chinese birthday pastry is the shòu bāo (壽包, simp. 寿包) or shòu táo bāo (壽桃包, simp. 寿桃包), a lotus-paste-filled bun made of wheat flour and shaped and colored to resemble a peach. Rather than serving one large pastry, each guest is served their own small shou bao. In Korea, the traditional birthday dish is seaweed soup. In Western Russia, birthday children are served fruit pies with a birthday greeting carved into the crusts. The Swedish birthday cake is made like a ] that is often topped with marzipan and decorated with the national flag. Dutch birthday pastries are fruit tarts topped with whipped cream. In ] there are very few people who use birth celebration in villages, but in cities and towns, birthday cakes are used similarly as in western countries, especially among people with higher education.


=== Swedish ===
==The ritual of blowing out birthday candles==
The Swedish birthday cake is made like a ] that is often topped with marzipan and decorated with the national flag. Dutch birthday pastries are fruit tarts topped with whipped cream.


=== English ===
In many cultures the person whose birthday is being celebrated is invited to make a wish, and blow out candles.<ref name=Atlantic2017-07-27/><ref name=TheIndependent2017-07-31/><ref name=FoodAndWine2017-07-28/>
Traditionally an English birthday cake is infused with artifacts that signify importance and good luck when baking the cake. To illustrate, adding a coin into the baking of the cake can represent financial success for the birthday individual.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Redlich |first=Orly |date=2020 |title=The Concept of Birthday: A Theoretical, Historical, and Social Overview, in Judaism and Other Cultures |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344327597 |journal=World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences |volume=14 |pages=791–800 |via=International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation}}</ref> Different artifacts within cake can be used to symbolize a wish for the birthday girl or boy.


=== Egyptian ===
In June 2017 researchers at ] reported that some individuals deposit a large number of bacteria on the cake.<ref name=Atlantic2017-07-27/><ref name=TheIndependent2017-07-31/><ref name=FoodAndWine2017-07-28/><ref name="FoodResearch" />
Birthday parties in Egypt consist of two different birthday cakes for the birthday girl or boy. Often only one birthday cake has a set of birthday candles while the other is left untouched. While two birthday cakes are significant in Egyptian culture, other sweet treats can be seen at birthday parties such as cakes known as “ghettos”.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Redlich |first=Orly |date=2020 |title=The Concept of Birthday: A Theoretical, Historical, and Social Overview, in Judaism and Other Cultures |journal=World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences |volume=14 |pages=791–800 |via=International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 14(9) 2020}}</ref>

=== Israeli ===
In Israel, individuals celebrate their birthdays with candles on their birthday cakes that align with the number of years the birthday individual was born. As well an additional candle is added to the birthday cake to represent a candle for the following year.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Redlich |first=Orly |date=2020 |title=The Concept of Birthday: A Theoretical, Historical, and Social Overview, in Judaism and Other Cultures |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344327597 |journal=World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences |volume=14 |pages=791–800}}</ref>

=== American ===
In the United States, lighting a birthday candle in correlation to the age of the birthday recipient is mirrored off of German customs.<ref name=":2" /> As well, singing happy birthday songs has become engraved in American birthday culture while the candles on the birthday are lit. In the 20th century a birthday trend became evident in American culture where a birthday want or desire would only be achieved if the birthday recipient blew the candle in one exhale.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Gage |first=Mary and James |date=2012 |title=Birthday Cakes: History & Recipes |url=https://mobile.newenglandrecipes.org/Birthday-Cake.pdf |journal=New England Recipes |pages=1–16}}</ref>


==Gallery== ==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed> <gallery mode="packed">
File:1st Birthday Cake (１歳の誕生日ケーキ) (3470200661).jpg|1st Anniversary Birthday cake File:Birthday Cake with 2.jpg|2nd birthday cake
File:21st Birthday cake.jpg|21st anniversary birthday chocolate cake File:Grandma's birthday cake for grandson.jpg|Christmas tree birthday cake
File:1sugarcraftcake.jpg|Birthday cake for someone's birthday File:1sugarcraftcake.jpg|Birthday cake with a written message
File:ENGINEER'S BIRTHDAY CAKE.jpg|Construction worker themed birthday cake
File:Birthday cake (14354110336).jpg|Birthday Cake
File:Tarta de cumpleaños, 18 años (RPS 10-09-2014).png|18th anniversary birthday cake File:100th birthday cake (13177068725).jpg|100th birthday cake with 100 candles
File:Birthday cake (SM City Santa Mesa, Aurora Blvd., Quezon City; 2015-09-11).jpg|Chocolate with mixed fruit birthday cake File:Birthday cake in shape of Lace monitor with egg in mouth.jpg|Birthday cake in the shape of a ]
File:Pink seolgitteok cake.jpg|]-cake (birthday cake made of rice cakes) File:Birthday cake for one-year old.jpg|Elaborately layered birthday cake
File:Juliana Tea Party.jpg|Birthday cake garnished with a birthday party diorama
File:Tarta de cumpleaños (RPS 10-09-2014) 18 años.png|18th birthday cake
File:Birthday cake (SM City Santa Mesa, Aurora Blvd., Quezon City; 2015-09-11).jpg|Chocolate with assorted fruit birthday cake
File:Pink seolgitteok cake.jpg|]-cake
File:Birthday cake, Downpatrick, April 2010 (02).JPG|Creamy raspberry birthday cake File:Birthday cake, Downpatrick, April 2010 (02).JPG|Creamy raspberry birthday cake
File:Torta de Cumpleaños.jpg|Football player birthday cake File:Torta de Cumpleaños.jpg|] themed birthday cake
File:Bringebærbløtkake.JPG|Creamy fruit birthday cake File:Cake 6.jpg|Homemade birthday cake
File:3rd birthday cake (Unsplash 10b8Lvvc-4g).jpg|Birthday cake with a "3" shaped candle
File:Cake 6.jpg|Homemade designed birthday cake
File:Birthday cake for one-year old.jpg|Elaborate birthday cake File:Celebration cake for the 100th anniversary.jpg|German cake for a 100th birthday
File:Juliana Tea Party.jpg|Birthday cake featuring edible miniature birthday party. File:Ladybird birthday cake.jpg|Birthday cake in the shape of a ]
Image:Celebration cake for the 100th anniversary.jpg|German celebration cake for the 100th anniversary File:Birthday cake for Basia, Brisbane, February 2019.jpg|Mixed fruit birthday cake
File:Ladybird birthday cake.jpg|Ladybird cartoon birthday cake File:Construction cake 01-02-2020.jpg|Construction worker themed birthday cake
File:3rd birthday cake (Unsplash 10b8Lvvc-4g).jpg|Children birthday cake File:Mint mousse chocolate cake from Pasticceria Confetteria Cova.jpg|25th birthday mint mousse cake
File:Birthday cake (8973445388) (cropped).jpg|Birthday cake with lit candles
File:Birthday_Cake_Bloomsburg,_Pennsylvania.jpg|Multicolored Birthday Cake (Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania)
</gallery> </gallery>


==See also== ==See also==
{{portal|Cakes}}
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
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| author = Paul Dawson, Inyee Han, Danielle Lynn, Jenevieve Lackey, Johnson Baker, Rose Martinez-Dawson | author = Paul Dawson, Inyee Han, Danielle Lynn, Jenevieve Lackey, Johnson Baker, Rose Martinez-Dawson
| year = 2017 | year = 2017
| page =
| location =
| volume = 6 | volume = 6
| number = 4 | number = 4
| access-date = 2017-12-03
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| accessdate = 2017-12-03
| deadurl = No
| quote =
}} }}
</ref> </ref>
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{{cite news {{cite news
| url = https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/07/birthday-candle-bacteria/534987/ | url = https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/07/birthday-candle-bacteria/534987/
| title = Blowing Out Birthday Candles Increases Cake Bacteria by 1,400 Percent: But it’s okay, really! | title = Blowing Out Birthday Candles Increases Cake Bacteria by 1,400 Percent: But it's okay, really!
| work = ] | work = ]
| author = Sarah Zhang | author = Sarah Zhang
| date = 2017-07-27 | date = 2017-07-27
| access-date = 2017-12-03
| page =
| location =
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| accessdate = 2017-12-03
| deadurl = No
| quote = On average, blowing out the candles increased the amount of bacteria on the frosting by 14 times. But in one case, it increased the amount of bacteria by more than 120 times. “Some people blow on the cake and they don’t transfer any bacteria. Whereas you have one or two people who really for whatever reason ... transfer a lot of bacteria.” says Dawson.” | quote = On average, blowing out the candles increased the amount of bacteria on the frosting by 14 times. But in one case, it increased the amount of bacteria by more than 120 times. “Some people blow on the cake and they don’t transfer any bacteria. Whereas you have one or two people who really for whatever reason ... transfer a lot of bacteria.” says Dawson.”
}} }}
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| author = Sarah Young | author = Sarah Young
| date = 2017-07-31 | date = 2017-07-31
| access-date = 2017-12-03
| page =
| location =
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| accessdate = 2017-12-03
| deadurl = No
| quote = They then lit the candles and blew them out before diluting the frosting with sterilised water and spreading it out on agar plates for the bacteria to grow. | quote = They then lit the candles and blew them out before diluting the frosting with sterilised water and spreading it out on agar plates for the bacteria to grow.
}} }}
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| url = http://www.foodandwine.com/news/blowing-out-candles-birthday-cake | url = http://www.foodandwine.com/news/blowing-out-candles-birthday-cake
| title = Blowing Out Birthday Candles Could Ruin the Cake | title = Blowing Out Birthday Candles Could Ruin the Cake
| work = ] | work = ]
| author = Elizabeth Sherman | author = Elizabeth Sherman
| date = 2017-07-28 | date = 2017-07-28
| access-date = 2017-12-03
| page =
| location =
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| accessdate = 2017-12-03
| deadurl = No
| quote =
}} }}
</ref> </ref>

}} }}


==External links== ==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
{{Commons category|Birthday cakes}} {{Commons category|Birthday cakes}}
{{Sister project links}}

{{Spoken Misplaced Pages|EN_Birthday_Cake.ogg|2006-04-16}} {{Spoken Misplaced Pages|EN_Birthday_Cake.ogg|date=2006-04-16}}


{{Cakes}} {{Cakes}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Birthday Cake}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Birthday Cake}}
] ]
] ]
] ]
]

Latest revision as of 17:09, 18 December 2024

Dessert served to celebrate a birthday This article is about the tradition. For other uses, see Birthday cake (disambiguation).
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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A round decorated cake with 18 unlit candles and "Happy 18th Birthday Anna Sophia" written in icing.
Birthday cake with 18 candles for the celebrant's 18th birthday

A birthday cake is a cake eaten as part of a birthday celebration. While there is no standard for birthday cakes, they are typically highly decorated layer cakes covered in frosting, often featuring birthday wishes ("Happy birthdays") and the celebrant's name. In many cultures, it is also customary to serve the birthday cake with small lit candles on top, especially in the case of a child's birthday. The cake often accompanies the singing of "Happy Birthday to You". Variations include cupcakes, cake pops, pastries, and tarts.

History

The Birthday Cake by 19th-century German genre painter Pancraz Körle.

Birthday cakes have been a part of birthday celebrations in Western European countries since the middle of the 19th century. However, the link between cakes and birthday celebrations may date back to ancient Roman times; in classical Roman culture, cakes were occasionally served at special birthdays and at weddings. These were circles made from flour and nuts, leavened with yeast, and sweetened with honey.

In Germany by the 18th century, the tradition of celebrating birthdays with a birthday cake and candles began. One of the most notable occasions where using a birthday cake with candles took form was during Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf of Marienborn's birthday party in 1746 in Germany. His cake was said to be as big as an oven could make it, with candles stuck in it, marking the years of his age. From the 18th century, elaborate cakes continued to take form, having many aspects of the contemporary birthday cake, like multiple layers, icing, and decorations. However, these cakes were only available to the very wealthy. Birthday cakes became accessible to the lower class as a result of the industrial revolution and the spread of more materials and goods.

Birthday candles and contemporary rites

Modern celebration candles spelling out "Happy birthday"
Child with a birthday cake, c. 1930–1940

The practice of serving cake on birthdays is commonplace in many cultures. In contemporary Western cultures, birthday cakes for children are often topped with candles, secured with special holders or simply pressed down into the outer frosting. In the Anglosphere, the number of candles often corresponds to the age of the individual being celebrated, occasionally with one extra for luck. An increasingly popular alternative is to use candles shaped as the numeral digits of the celebrant's age. Sparklers may also be used alongside or instead of the traditional wax candles.

The cake is usually presented with all the candles lit, at which point it is customary for the guests to sing Happy Birthday to You in unison, or an equivalent birthday song appropriate to the country. Upon the conclusion of the song, the celebrant is traditionally prompted to blow out the candles and make a wish, which is thought to come true if all the candles are extinguished in a single breath. Another common superstition holds that the wish must be made in silence, not to be shared with anyone else, or else it will not come true.

Theories of origin

See also: History of candle making

Though the exact origin of the birthday candle ritual is unknown, there are multiple theories which try to explain this tradition.

One theory explaining the tradition of placing candles on birthday cakes is attributed to the early Greeks, who used candles to honor the goddess Artemis' birth on the sixth day of every lunar month. The link between her oversight of fertility and the birthday tradition of candles on cakes, however, has not been established.

Kinder Fest.

In 18th century Germany, the history of candles on cakes can be traced back to Kinderfest, a birthday celebration for children. This tradition also makes use of candles and cakes. German children were taken to an auditorium-like space. There, they were free to celebrate another year in a place where Germans believed that adults protected children from the evil spirits attempting to steal their souls. In those times there was no tradition of bringing gifts to a birthday; guests would merely bring good wishes for the birthday person. However, if a guest did bring gifts it was considered to be a good sign for the person whose birthday it was. Later, flowers became quite popular as a birthday gift.

  • In 1746, a large birthday festival was held for Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf at Marienborn near Büdingen. Andrew Frey described the party in detail and mentions, "there was a Cake as large as any Oven could be found to bake it, and Holes made in the Cake according to the Years of the Person's Age, every one having a Candle stuck into it, and one in the Middle."
  • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, having spent 24–30 August 1801 in Gotha as a guest of Prince August of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, recounts of his 52nd birthday on 28 August: "when it was time for dessert, the prince's entire livery in full regalia entered, led by the majordomo. He carried a generous-size torte with colorful flaming candles – amounting to some fifty candles – that began to melt and threatened to burn down, instead of there being enough room for candles indicating upcoming years, as is the case with children's festivities of this kind." As the excerpt indicates, the tradition at the time was to place one candle on the cake for each year of the individual's life, so that the number of candles on top of the cake would represent the age which some one had reached; sometimes a birthday cake would have some added candles 'indicating upcoming years.'

A reference to the tradition of blowing out the candles was documented in Switzerland in 1881. Researchers for the Folk-Lore Journal recorded various "superstitions" among the Swiss middle class. One statement depicted a birthday cake as having lighted candles which correspond to each year of life. These candles were required to be blown out, individually, by the person who is being celebrated.

Bacteriology

In June 2017 researchers at Clemson University reported that some individuals deposit a large number of bacteria onto the cake frosting when blowing out the candles. They found that on average, the act increased the amount of bacteria by 14 times, but one of the researchers described this as "not a big health concern".

By culture

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There are many variations of sweets which are eaten around the world on birthdays. Different cultures have different unique birthday cake traditions.

Chinese

The Chinese birthday pastry is the shòu bāo (simplified Chinese: 寿包; traditional Chinese: 壽包) or shòu táo bāo (simplified Chinese: 寿桃包; traditional Chinese: 壽桃包), a lotus-paste-filled bun made of wheat flour and shaped and colored to resemble a peach. Rather than serving one large pastry, each guest is served their own small shòu bāo.

Russian and Lithuanian

In Western Russia, birthday children are served fruit pies with a birthday greeting carved into the crusts. As well in Russia and Lithuania, rather than a birthday cake, Russian adolescents receive a pie with a sweet birthday message that is illustrated with icing on top of the birthday pie.

Swedish

The Swedish birthday cake is made like a pound cake that is often topped with marzipan and decorated with the national flag. Dutch birthday pastries are fruit tarts topped with whipped cream.

English

Traditionally an English birthday cake is infused with artifacts that signify importance and good luck when baking the cake. To illustrate, adding a coin into the baking of the cake can represent financial success for the birthday individual. Different artifacts within cake can be used to symbolize a wish for the birthday girl or boy.

Egyptian

Birthday parties in Egypt consist of two different birthday cakes for the birthday girl or boy. Often only one birthday cake has a set of birthday candles while the other is left untouched. While two birthday cakes are significant in Egyptian culture, other sweet treats can be seen at birthday parties such as cakes known as “ghettos”.

Israeli

In Israel, individuals celebrate their birthdays with candles on their birthday cakes that align with the number of years the birthday individual was born. As well an additional candle is added to the birthday cake to represent a candle for the following year.

American

In the United States, lighting a birthday candle in correlation to the age of the birthday recipient is mirrored off of German customs. As well, singing happy birthday songs has become engraved in American birthday culture while the candles on the birthday are lit. In the 20th century a birthday trend became evident in American culture where a birthday want or desire would only be achieved if the birthday recipient blew the candle in one exhale.

Gallery

  • 2nd birthday cake 2nd birthday cake
  • Christmas tree birthday cake Christmas tree birthday cake
  • Birthday cake with a written message Birthday cake with a written message
  • Construction worker themed birthday cake Construction worker themed birthday cake
  • 100th birthday cake with 100 candles 100th birthday cake with 100 candles
  • Birthday cake in the shape of a Lace monitor Birthday cake in the shape of a Lace monitor
  • Elaborately layered birthday cake Elaborately layered birthday cake
  • Birthday cake garnished with a birthday party diorama Birthday cake garnished with a birthday party diorama
  • 18th birthday cake 18th birthday cake
  • Chocolate with assorted fruit birthday cake Chocolate with assorted fruit birthday cake
  • Tteok-cake Tteok-cake
  • Creamy raspberry birthday cake Creamy raspberry birthday cake
  • Association football themed birthday cake Association football themed birthday cake
  • Homemade birthday cake Homemade birthday cake
  • Birthday cake with a "3" shaped candle Birthday cake with a "3" shaped candle
  • German cake for a 100th birthday German cake for a 100th birthday
  • Birthday cake in the shape of a ladybug Birthday cake in the shape of a ladybug
  • Mixed fruit birthday cake Mixed fruit birthday cake
  • Construction worker themed birthday cake Construction worker themed birthday cake
  • 25th birthday mint mousse cake 25th birthday mint mousse cake
  • Birthday cake with lit candles Birthday cake with lit candles
  • Multicolored Birthday Cake (Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania) Multicolored Birthday Cake (Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania)

See also

References

  1. "Birthday Cakes: History & Recipes – Online article with an extensive bibliography".
  2. Humble, Nicola (2010-05-15). Cake: A Global History. Reaktion Books. ISBN 978-1-86189-730-5.
  3. ^ Gage, Mary (2012). "Birthday Cakes: History & Recipes" (PDF). New England Recipes: 1.
  4. Marcus, Ivan G. (1 March 2012). The Jewish Life Cycle: Rites of Passage from Biblical to Modern Times. University of Washington Press. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-295-80392-0.
  5. ^ Sarah Zhang (2017-07-27). "Blowing Out Birthday Candles Increases Cake Bacteria by 1,400 Percent: But it's okay, really!". Atlantic magazine. Retrieved 2017-12-03. On average, blowing out the candles increased the amount of bacteria on the frosting by 14 times. But in one case, it increased the amount of bacteria by more than 120 times. "Some people blow on the cake and they don't transfer any bacteria. Whereas you have one or two people who really for whatever reason ... transfer a lot of bacteria." says Dawson."
  6. ^ Sarah Young (2017-07-31). "Blowing out birthday candles increases bacteria on cake by 1,400%, study reveals". The Independent. Retrieved 2017-12-03. They then lit the candles and blew them out before diluting the frosting with sterilised water and spreading it out on agar plates for the bacteria to grow.
  7. ^ Elizabeth Sherman (2017-07-28). "Blowing Out Birthday Candles Could Ruin the Cake". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2017-12-03.
  8. Rusinek, Marietta (2012). "Cake:The Centrepiece of Celebrations". Celebration: Proceedings of the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery 2011. Oxford: Prospect Books. pp. 308–315.
  9. "Keeping the Legacy". German Hausbarn. Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  10. "History of Birthdays". Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2013-11-04.
  11. Frey, Andreas (1753-01-01). A true and authentic account of Andrew Frey. Containing the occasion of his coming among the ... Moravians [&c.]. Transl.
  12. Shirley Cherkasky: Birthday Cakes and Candles, p. 220 books.google. Goethe's Tag- und Jahreshefte 1801 http://www.zeno.org/nid/20004859979
  13. The Folk-lore Journal. Folk-lore Society. 1883-01-01. p. 380.
  14. Paul Dawson, Inyee Han, Danielle Lynn, Jenevieve Lackey, Johnson Baker, Rose Martinez-Dawson (2017). "Bacterial Transfer Associated with Blowing Out Candles on a Birthday Cake". Journal of Food Research. Vol. 6, no. 4. Retrieved 2017-12-03.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. Redlich, Orly (2020). "The Concept of Birthday: A Theoretical, Historical, and Social Overview, in Judaism and Other Cultures". World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 14 (14): 791–800 – via International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation.
  16. Redlich, Orly (2020). "The Concept of Birthday: A Theoretical, Historical, and Social Overview, in Judaism and Other Cultures". World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 14: 791–800 – via International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation.
  17. Redlich, Orly (2020). "The Concept of Birthday: A Theoretical, Historical, and Social Overview, in Judaism and Other Cultures". World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 14: 791–800 – via International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 14(9) 2020.
  18. Redlich, Orly (2020). "The Concept of Birthday: A Theoretical, Historical, and Social Overview, in Judaism and Other Cultures". World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 14: 791–800.
  19. ^ Gage, Mary and James (2012). "Birthday Cakes: History & Recipes" (PDF). New England Recipes: 1–16.

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