Cakes: History of candles lit on cakes that you probably don't know

in Cook and bake4 years ago (edited)

Today, it is rare to find a party or some sort of celebration without a cake or two. Think of one and catch yourself coming to terms with an answer that affirms that claim. From wedding parties, birthday parties, dinners, bridal showers, cakes are a new normal — a trademark to go with celebrations.

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One intriguing feature of cakes used for celebrations (often birthday cakes) today is the addition of candles. Lit candle lights are placed on the cake, ready for its celebrant to make a wish and blow out the light. This tradition is common today, but I can bet you don’t know half of its history. Let's take a brief walk on a path to where it all began.

There are several historical theories of when candles were put in cakes. One of such is dated back to Ancient Greece. The Greeks in ancient times, make cakes in honor of Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon.

People brought Artemis cakes lit with candles that imitate the moonlight representing the goddess symbol. It’s said that the smoke emitted from the candles carried the wishes and prayers of people to their gods. This belief is not surprising, though. It is no coincidence that today people make wishes before blowing their candles out.

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Another historical angle to cakes lit with candles is of German origin. Candles lit on birthday cakes represented the number of years of the celebrant. That’s why it’s said it represents “the light of life.”

One source has it that in 1746, Count Nikolaus Ludwig Von Zinzindorf, born into Austrian nobility, threw a party that had a cake included in the celebrateion. The cake, described as quite large it was rare to find an oven to bake it. Holes were made in the cake for candles to represent the age of the count. Apart from having candles around the cake, one stood out in the middle.

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Great write up about the history of cake candles!


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Thanks for pointing out the right directions. I will keep to that.