BACK IN TIME WITH BIRTHDAY CAKES

GOING BACK IN TIME TO DISCOVER HOW BIRTHDAY CAKES BECAME A REALITY

gotten from:pixabay

It never bumped into my mind why we use cakes for birthday (not until now), why not bread which is older, pancake which is easier or rice which is universal? This question did not disturb me until I had to bake a cake for my mum's birthday( you will definitely see the cake). So I got myself busy searching for answer and here is what I came up with;

The earliest history of cakes being used for birthdays could be traced back to the ancient Greece in the 5th century B.C, where flat and round bread like pastry, sweetened with honey and nuts. where used to celebrate occasions, birthdays includes, among the wealthy. Though there is no fact pointing to any specific birthday celebrant in the ancient Greece.

Another account holds that the earliest form of cake and candles can be traced to the the ancient Greeks giving their offerings to honour Artemis, a goddess who had dominion over the moon. So moon shaped flat cakes with candles on them to signify light, was offered.

The German bakers, in the 15th century, start selling one layer cakes for birthday. (which somewhat look like what we have now). By the 18th century, the German had evolved in their cake making, as the cakes now comes with frosting and wealthy people now got elaborate and expensive cakes delivered for their birthdays. By the end of the 18th century, and after the industrial revolution, anybody now could buy and eat cakes to their satisfaction.

The Germans also celebrated and still celebrates 'Kinderfest', a birthday festival for children where each child will be given a cake with candles (A story for another day) on top of the cakes. This culture expanded and there it is today, people trying to get cakes for birthday, even before thinking of other refreshments.

As to how Cake became a birthday joy in Nigeria, I will say we went along with the flow. civilisation and other forms of globalisation did the trick. I could remember vividly, back in those days, parents who couldn't birthday cakes moulded rice into cake shapes to celebrate their children's birthdays ( I actually attending few birthdays like that).

Meanwhile, you check my post on the snacks that make your birthday rock (top five snacks that will make your birthday rock.). Surprisingly, cake was the least of the list. And as to the birthday cake I baked,I will show you some other time. Please do not forget to share this post.