Birthday Cake History

The birthday cake has been an integral part of the birthday tradition in Western cultures. The cake is served to a person on his or her birthday, and is often decorated with small novelty candles, with the person's name and/or a message of congratulations inscribed with icing. The phrase "Happy Birthday" did not appear on birthday cakes until the song Happy Birthday to You was popularized in the early 1900s.

Tradition holds that the person with the birthday may make a wish, which will come true if all the candles can be blown out in one breath. US patent 6319530 relates to a "method of photocopying an image onto an edible web for decorating iced baked goods." This invention enables one to ink jet print a food-grade color photograph on the cake surface.

History of Birthday Cake can be traced back to the ancient Greeks who made round or moon shaped honey cakes or bread and took it to the temple of Artemis -the Goddess of Moon. Some scholars, however, believe that the tradition of Birthday cake started in Germany in middle Ages. This special birthday cake later reemerged in Germany as a Kinderfest or the birthday celebrations of a young child. Germans also baked another special kind of a cake called Geburtstagorten as it was baked in layers. This was sweeter that the coarse and bread like cake that were usually made at that time.

In earlier times, Birthday cakes were mostly round in shape. Scholars associate religious beliefs and technical compulsions for the same. Greeks offered round shape cake to the Goddess of Moon - Artemis as it signified moon. They even placed candles on the cake to make the cake glow like the moon.

Technical reason given for the roundness of the cake is that most cakes we know off advanced from the bread. In ancient times breads and cakes were made by hand. Typically, these were fashioned into round balls and baked on hearthstones or in low, shallow pans. Hence, these naturally relaxed into round shapes. With the progress of times baking pans of various shapes were developed and today we see cakes in imaginative shapes and sizes.

In medieval times people of England used to place symbolic objects like coins, rings and thimbles in the batter of the cake. It was believed that those who found coin in the cake would be wealthy while the unlucky finder of the thimble would never marry. If the cake fell while baking it was considered to be a bad omen and signified bad luck for the person in the coming year.

Design Your Birthday Bash Cake

Birthdays are celebrated worldwide, signifying the day of a person's birth. The birthday cake has been an important part of the birthday celebration since the middle nineteenth century. There are many milestone birthdays that are momentous to someone. These may include(but not limited to) their first, fifth, tenth, subsequently eighteen and twenty- first birthday. Perhaps an, "Over The Hill" party would be arranged to celebrate the big 4-0. The birthday when you turn the same age as your birth date is referred to as the golden birthday ie. turning 20 on the 20th.

There is no greater way to say happy birthday than with a birthday cake. Some of the most common cake flavors are chocolate, yellow, & strawberry. Additionally ice cream cakes are a favorite to many. Special cake pan molds to make cakes into certain shapes such as a fish, heart, and many more are available online and in stores. A birthday cake is all about the guest of honor, they can be as individual as the person receiving it.

Often children find theme cakes appealing, possibly embellished with one of the most popular TV characters. Young boys may like Nickelodeon characters whereas older boys flip over sports theme cakes. Disney and Princess themes are common for little girls. Older girls tend to enjoy a simple cake with fancy writing or popular technical items such as computers, cell phones or iPods. You can purchase these beautifully decorated cakes from a grocery store, bakery or you can make them yourself.

An essential part of the birthday cake are the candles. Available in all colors, shapes,& sizes. Trick candles, signing candles, numbered candles the list goes on and on. You'll want to include the rituals of signing Happy Birthday, making a wish and blowing out the candles at your birthday bash.

Adults may prefer cupcakes ( a small cake designed to serve one person) to celebrate their birthday. To beautify cupcakes you may purchase decorated baking cups or liners. The cupcake itself may be decorated just as you would a larger cake. Sprinkles, candies and candles can be used to decorate these as well.

For some people the birthday cake may be the highlight of the birthday. Getting a special theme cake or ice cream cake should be something they remember for years to come. It is important to start planning the birthday party weeks in advance. I am positive your effort will be well worth the joy it will bring the receiver.