Why do we celebrate with cake?
We celebrate with cake because sweet foods have long been signs of special occasions and abundance. Birthday cakes with candles trace back to German children's celebrations in the 1700s, called Kinderfeste.
In ancient times, sugar and fine flour were expensive, so sweet baked goods were saved for festivals and offerings. Some historians think ancient Greeks offered round honey cakes to Artemis, goddess of the Moon, decorated with lit candles to make them glow. Romans also celebrated certain birthdays with cakes.
The modern birthday cake tradition comes largely from Germany, where families celebrated children's birthdays with a cake and candles, one for each year plus one for good luck. As sugar became cheaper during the Industrial Revolution, cakes became affordable for ordinary families, and the tradition spread.
Wedding cakes
Wedding cakes have their own history. In ancient Rome, bread was broken over the bride's head for good luck. Tiered white wedding cakes became popular in the 1800s, inspired partly by Queen Victoria's 1840 wedding cake.
Did You Know?
The song Happy Birthday to You is based on the tune Good Morning to All, written by sisters Mildred and Patty Hill in the 1890s.