Birthdays will never be the same without birthday cakes, It has been a tradition in many countries around the world, to have a special cake on someones birthday. Especially to kids it will not be a birthday without a cake, just like a wedding without the wedding ring. But did it ever came to our minds why do we need to blow out candles on birthday cakes?
According to history, it has been the tradition since the time of the Ancient Romans. Most of the historians believe it all started in Ancient Greece, where citizens are offering cakes with lit candles to the temple of Artemis, goddess of the hunt. It was believed that the candles were lit in order for the cake to make them look like the moon that glows at night. Where of this glowing moon is the popular symbol associated with Artemis.
The majority of these ancient cultures believed that when they blow out a candle, the produced smoke coming from the burned lid of the candle will carry their prayers and wishes up to heaven. And today's tradition of making wishes before blowing out birthday candles may have started with that belief.
Few historians came up with a theory that it started with the Germans. When Count Ludwig Von Zinzindorf celebrated his birthday with a bang, a very extravagant festival. Where the cakes are as large as the ovens, and there were holes made in the cake and everyone who holds a candle should insert and stuck it into the hole created which was mostly placed in the middle of the cake. And according to historians Germans during that period believes that lit candles symbolizes the "light of life". And the celebrant needs to turn off the lit candles by blowing out. Because lit candles correspond to the number of the past years he or she has been living in this world and must give way for the years to come with new light to guide the celebrants life.
Whichever history is true. The important thing of blowing out a candle gives excitement and joy to kids. Celebrating one of the happiest moment in their life. Because once they grow older the meaning and excitement of celebrating their birthdays with the birthday cake will never be the same again. For some reason, in the eyes and mind of the child every wish are made to come true. So let your child not be deprived from blowing out candles on their birthday cakes, in doing so you are making the most out of their life as a child where reality and fantasy has no difference.
