how did the tradition of placing candles on a birthday cake originate?

Answer 1

The sun holds early spiritual significance. Fire, as an element of the sun, was used to light candles in weddings, funerals, and other rituals. Fire was viewed as a symbol of beginning, or birth, as well as essential for sustaining life.

In a talk given to the Culinary Historians of Washington, DC, Shirley Cherkasky explained that candles were instrumental in measuring time, pointing to King Alfred of England's ninth-century system of measuring the day's hours with candles. Measuring or signifying the years of someone's life using candles isn't such a far jump.

A book called "The Lore of Birthdays" is cited by abcog.org regarding the first cake and candle combo. "The custom of lighted candles on the cakes started with the Greeks," who placed the cakes at the altars of the temple of Artemis. However, it's not clear if these were birthday cakes or cakes for another occasion.

Cherkasky's extensive research points to a 1799 letter by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. According to the letter, a well-lit birthday cake was used by the Germans in or before the 18th century. Employees of a prince "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."

Answer 2

GOOD QUESTION!!! This is the first good question I've heard in a LONG time!

Candles on the Cake

There are a few possible explanations as to why we have candles on birthday cakes, nobody is completely sure how the tradition started.

One possible reason is because the ancient Greeks used to take cakes (round to represent the full moon) to the temple of their goddess of the moon, Artemis. The Greeks are said to have placed candles on the cake to make it look as if it was glowing like the moon.

It has also been claimed that the Germans invented birthday cakes, and celebrated birthdays with a cake called "Geburtstagorten". The Germans were known to have been skilled candlemakers and may have put small candles on their cakes, possibly for religious reasons.

Answer 3

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oK whatever tickles your pickle baby