The origin of cakes can be traced back as far as ancient Egypt where its initial form was invented and made using ingredients like flour, dates, dried figs, raisins, and honey. Over the years, cake recipes have evolved and use different ingredients like eggs, milk, vanilla, fruits, chocolate, sugar, etc. This development has led to an explosion of flavors that have created strong impressions on the minds of people and impacted their thoughts and impressions.
Origins of birthday cakes
The tradition of having birthday cake celebrations has been around for years. Ancient Egyptians would use the dish during the birthdays of wealthy people. It was also used in the coronation ceremonies of Pharos, where Pharos would become gods upon being crowned. Ancient Greeks also had cakes as a tribute to the goddess Artemis by baking them in half moon shape with candles that sparkled like the moon. It is believed that the tradition of lighting candles over birthday cakes originates from this.
Birthday Cakes and People’s Thoughts
Historically, cakes were difficult to make earlier due to a lack of ingredients, making them a luxury shared only by the rich. Due to this, cakes during birthdays did not become popular till the industrial revolution when the cake ingredients and their costs decreased. This made cakes as a symbol of luxury and wealth in people’s minds and allowed those with birthday cakes to make a good impression.
Such an impression would lead people to think that birthday cakes were for the rich, which had often served as a symbol of wealth and status amongst European nobility. According to historical records, the modern practice of birthday parties traditionally shares roots with 18th-century German celebrations called ‘Kinderfeste’. Here, a child receives a cake on the morning of their birthday with lighted candles that add up to the child’s age, plus one.
The extra candle represents the hope of another full year and is called the ‘light of life’. This displays that birthday cakes served as a symbol of happiness and hope of living a good life for most people. The family would also replace the candles throughout the day till after dinner when the birthday child blows out all of them in one breath to make a wish and cut the cake. This shows the love and care of the family and would make people feel closer to their loved ones.
These cakes also helped memorialize the celebration, which directs people’s thoughts to create a positive impression of the event.