There are a lot of things we do, that we don't question and frankly when it comes to cakes -sweet, yummy and delicious as they are- why would you?

I recently read a poem titled 'Birthday' by Robert William service and have ever since been wondering "Why do we celebrate birthdays with cakes. ALWAYS"

So here I am appeasing my curiosity and hopefully yours too.

A Brief History Of Birthdays

The ancient Egyptians are credited with "inventing" the celebration of birthdays. They believed when pharaohs were crowned, they became gods, so their coronation day was a pretty big deal. That was their "birth" as a god. 

This is believed to be the first note of a birthday, which was, of course, celebrated, to mark the amazing transition from human into deity.

….. And Cakes?

Well, the Ancient Greeks borrowed the tradition but rightfully realized that a dessert would make the celebration all the more meaningful. So they baked moon-shaped cakes to offer up to Artemis, goddess of the moon, as a tribute.

……Candles?

The Greeks decorated their cakes with candles to make the cakes shine like the moon. Honoring the goddess Artemis's birth on the sixth day of every lunar month.

When did wishes come in?

Germans are credited with the transition of the birthday cakes and parties to what they are presently.

In the eighteenth century, Germans celebrated kids' birthdays with 'Kinderfeste,' and a birthday cake was an incredibly important part of this celebration.

Every child was given a cake with one candle for every year they had lived, plus one extra to symbolize the hope of living another year. When blowing out the candles, every child had to make a wish, just as we still do today.

The Industrial Revolution's Influence

Although the Germans are noted to have used cakes for birthday celebrations in the 18th century, however these cakes were only available to the wealthy.

Birthday cakes became more accessible to the lower class as a result of the industrial revolution and the spread of more materials and goods.

….. And the Birthday Song?

The Happy Birthday song was created in 1924, by Robert Coleman. He edited a song sang by school children every morning, and created the "Happy Birthday" song, which has been a key feature of all birthday parties, alongside the cake and candles, ever since.

Finally, as with all things in history, there are other suggested origins to birthday cakes, this just happen to be the most popular one. See Wikipedia for others.

By the way, check out the first verse of Robert William Service poem 'BIRTHDAYS' below:

Let us have birthdays every day,
(I had the thought while I was shaving)
Because a birthday should be gay,
And full of grace and good behaving.
We can't have cakes and candles bright,
And presents are beyond our giving,
But let it us cherish with delight
The birthday way of lovely living

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