Why Do We Blow Out Candles on Birthday Cakes?

The story and the magic meaning behind it that has Greek origins!

Why Do We Blow Out Candles on Birthday Cakes?

Have you ever wondered which is the actual meaning of this tradition?

What’s the story behind this tradition?

How old is this tradition?

Birthday cakes have been a tradition since the Ancient Romans were around.

Blowing out candles on a cake has Greek origins:

According to one theory the tradition of birthday candles began in Ancient Greece, when people used to believe in the Gods of Olympus. People used to bring cakes with candles to the temple of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. The candles were lit to make them glow like the moon, a popular symbol associated with Artemis.

They used to believe that the smoke of the candles carried their prayers to the heavens!

The first person who blew out candles on a cake for his birthday was a German:

Beside this theory there another one that says that the tradition of birthday candles started with the Germans. In 1746, Count Ludwig Von Zinzindorf celebrated his birthday with a big festival. They brought him a large cake with holes made in the cake according to the years of the person’s age, every one used to have a candle stuck into it, and one in the middle.

The Germans also celebrated with birthday candles during Kinderfest, a birthday celebration for children in the 1700s. Every candle placed on the cake used to symbolise the “light of life.”