The tradition of putting candles birthday cakes is widely practiced in many parts of the world.

The tradition of putting candles birthday cakes is widely practiced in many parts of the world. It is a custom that involves lighting candles typically equal to the age of the person celebrating their birthday, and blowing them out in one breath. This is usually accompanied by singing the Happy Birthday Song. While the purpose of the practice may seem obvious, it is difficult to determine exactly how this practice came to be. The origin of birthday candles is shrouded in mystery, but a popular theory has been established to explain its origin.

The origin of putting candles on cakes is not only difficult to trace back in history but it’s also subject to differing beliefs and opinions. Nonetheless, it's been established that the tradition originated from a combination of several beliefs and practices from ancient civilisations, particularly the Greeks and the Romans.

 

The Greeks were in the habit of offering round-shape cakes called 'cakes of the moon goddess' to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, fertility and childbirth, and moon in Greek mythology. These were offered to depict the shape of the moon which the latter was vastly associated with. The Romans, on the other hand, were in the habit of celebrating birthdays with offerings made to celebrate the health of the person. This is quite significant because it defines the very essence of birthdays till date, which is celebration of well-being, commemoration of life and hope for more prosperous and amazing years to come.

 

However, it is widely believed that the modern-day tradition of using the birthday cake and candles specifically, goes as far back as Germany in the middle ages, where such celebrations came to be known as Kinderfest. Kinderfest, meaning Kid parties were meant to celebrate the life of children. It was a way of commemorating the passage from childhood to adulthood. Back in the days, German children would sweep the floors of their rooms to invite good spirits into their homes. Parties would involve cakes topped with candles, and sometimes small presents, based on the number of years the celebrant was turning.

One explanation for the number of candles that would later grow to be lit as one gets older or celebrated more years, where the numbering was from one, two and then five, ten and so on, comes as a unique blend of beliefs originated from Babylonian in around 2000 B.C. to Pythagoran, which create a path to comprehensive numbering or series that underlays our numbering system till today. Aptly referred to scientifically and symbolically as triangular numbers.

 

The Babylonians developed a primitive method of numbering, which allowed the system to be written and inscribed in cuneiform. Several advancements were made, including dividing the circle into 360 degrees measuring phenomena such as the direction, annually occurring seasons and equinox. Since then calculations of summing specific occurrence and pattern have seen several advancements, however it’s still noteworthy yet that the discovery itself was significant. It led up to Pythagoras i.e, Pythagoras' triangle pattern which is still relevant in the numbering of birthday candles today.

 

According to legend, Pythagoras, an ancient Greek mathematician, and philosopher was said to have lived between 5th and 6th century BC. Pythagoras’ claimed to have a set of experiences that prepared him for his teachings about numbers with each number having its symbolic meaning. He established that numbers embodied a principle of creation and God himself i.e, (one God) is hidden and at the core of every relationship. Under his teachings, each number held its symbolism self-sufficient, and could teach self-examination, cosmic reflection, and social culture adeptness. In Pythagoras Theory – a precursor to geometry - triangular numbers were used to denote rights triangles and rectangular ones. This was a significant landmark in scientific human endeavour;‘but of course a s American-Hollywoodianised culture put it together, this tradition the world over, remains an artistic interpretation of Physics, Mathematics, and Philosophy, with undoubtedly its fair share of superstitions and mythology.