“When and why did we start blowing birthday candles?” These are questions that certainly many people put, and the answer is written in the story.
The practice is universal at feasts of years and has begun for centuries, not just being fun, but for religious and spiritual reasons.
Although it is believed that the origin of candles in birthday cakes can go back to ancient Rome, the truth is that there are no records that prove candles specifically on cakes at this time, note a. The oldest connection between candles, cakes and spirituality actually arises in the Ancient Greeceassociated with the cult of Artemis, goddess of the moon.
In temples dedicated to divinity, such as the Éphesus Artemison, the faithful made offering with Round cakes – symbolizing the moon – which may have been illuminated with candles on to imitate the light of our natural satellite or to invoke the divine presence, using fire as a means of spiritual communication.
Fire, as a symbolic and ritual element, was common to many Indo-European cultures and used in both domestic and public altars and ceremonies. With the expansion of the Roman Empire and the dissemination of Greek and Roman cultural practices, the symbolism of fire and its association with birth and the passage of time spread throughout Europe.
Children’s party
The closest habit of the current modern tradition emerged in the Germany With Kinderfest, a children’s celebration that sought to protect the children from evil spirits in their birthdays: candles were lit that were burning throughout the day, and their smoke would have the function of bringing the child’s desires to heaven. It was a way to invoke divine protection, but also to mark the importance of growth and personal maturity.
Despite the initial reticence of Christianity-which saw birthdays as pagan and selfish festivities-practice remained in some Protestant regions, especially from the seventeenth century, when more personal days, such as birth anniversary, baptism or confirmation, began to value more.
From Goethe’s cake to the world
One of the first documented references to candle birthday cakes appears in the autobiography of Johann Wolfgang von Goethewhich describes its 52nd birthday with a large cake decorated with about 50 candles.
Over time, the symbolism of candles evolved: each candle began to represent a year of life, and light them symbolized the inner light of the birthday girl. By blowing them at one time became an act carried with desire and hope. Delete all candles with one breath has come to be associated with the realization of a silent desire – a modern form of votive prayer.
Tradition gradually spread through other European countries, but the definitive internationalization of erasing candles was in the twentieth century, particularly after World War II. The influence of American culture-breathed through movies, television, postcards, songs and brands such as Disney, Hallmark and Betty Crocker-helped spread the birthday cake image with candles around the world.
