Ben Carter
Blowing out birthday candles is a tradition that has been around for a long time. It can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks, who often burned candles as offerings to their gods and goddesses. The tradition has evolved over time, and today, it is believed that blowing out all the birthday candles in one breath is essential to make a wish come true and bring good luck throughout the year. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns have been raised about blowing on food that will be shared with others. This has led to the development of creative alternatives for blowing out birthday candles, such as using a hairdryer or pushing candles through an upside-down paper plate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | One candle per year of life |
| Candle type | Regular or "magic" candles |
| Wish | Must be made before blowing out the candles |
| Breaths | Must be blown out in one breath |
| Sharing | Do not share what you wished for |
| Alternatives | Paper plate, hair dryer, funnel with a filter |
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What You'll Learn
The origins of placing candles on birthday cakes
The tradition of placing candles on birthday cakes is steeped in history and symbolism. The act of adding candles to a cake has become an integral part of birthday celebrations, symbolizing joy, life, and the passage of time. The precise origin of birthday candles is shrouded in history, but it is widely believed that they were first used in ancient Greece.
The ancient Greeks often burned candles as offerings to their many gods and goddesses. They made round, moon-shaped cakes and offered them to the lunar goddess Artemis, who also served as the goddess of the hunt. The Greeks placed candles on these cakes to honour Artemis, with the candles representing the moon's glow. The smoke from the candles was believed to carry their prayers to the heavens and ward off evil spirits.
Over time, this ritual offering evolved into a celebratory delicacy. By the Middle Ages, Europeans had adopted this tradition, infusing it with their own customs and flavours. The birthday cake, as we recognize it today, began to take shape, becoming a central emblem of birthday festivities and a canvas for artistic and culinary expression.
In the 18th century, there are widespread accounts of Germans celebrating birthdays with cake and candles. The German festival Kinderfest was a birthday celebration for children, featuring cakes with a single candle each. However, a turning point in birthday candle history occurred in 1746 when Count Ludwig Von Zinzendorf hosted a lavish birthday party with a cake adorned with candles corresponding to each year of life. This extravagant display set the precedent for the modern custom of decorating cakes with numerous candles to celebrate one's age.
Today, the tradition of blowing out birthday candles continues to carry symbolic meaning. It is believed to represent the extinguishing of the old year and the welcoming of the new, often accompanied by a wish for the future.
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The superstitions and beliefs associated with blowing out birthday candles
The tradition of placing candles on birthday cakes can be traced back to ancient times. The Ancient Greeks often burned candles as offerings to their gods and goddesses, including the moon goddess Artemis. They would bring round-shaped cakes adorned with lit candles when they visited the temple of Artemis, with the candles intended to make the cakes glow like the moon. The Greeks also believed that the smoke from the candles carried their wishes and prayers to the gods, and that the candles could ward off evil spirits.
The Germans also had a tradition of decorating birthday cakes with candles. In 1746, Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf threw himself a birthday party, with a lavish cake topped with several candles corresponding to his age. This soon became a widespread tradition in Germany. The German festival Kinderfest was a birthday celebration for children, featuring cakes with a single candle each.
Over time, several superstitions and beliefs have become associated with blowing out birthday candles. One common superstition is that the person celebrating their birthday must blow out all the candles in a single breath, or else their wish will not come true. It is also believed that the wish must be kept a secret to increase the chances of it coming true. Additionally, the act of blowing out birthday candles is thought to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck throughout the year.
Candles have also been associated with romantic rituals and superstitions. In many cultures, lighting a candle during a romantic dinner is believed to ignite passion and deepen the bond between two people. Lighting two candles from a single flame is seen as a symbol of two souls uniting as one. If a couple lights a candle together and it burns without flickering, it signifies a strong and enduring love. Conversely, a candle that goes out prematurely may indicate external forces working against the relationship.
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Creative ways to blow out birthday candles during a pandemic
Celebrating a birthday during a pandemic can be challenging, especially when it comes to blowing out the candles on a cake. The traditional way of blowing out birthday candles involves closing your eyes, making a wish, and then blowing out all the candles in one breath. It is believed that if you succeed in extinguishing all the candles at once, your wish will come true and you will have good luck for the rest of the year. However, during a pandemic, blowing saliva onto a cake that everyone will eat can be unsafe and spread germs. Here are some creative and safe ways to blow out birthday candles during a pandemic:
Use a Cake Shield
As seen in a TikTok video by @krystal_rochelle_, one creative way to blow out birthday candles is to keep the plastic cover on the cake. The candles are stuck onto the plastic lid with a little melted wax underneath each one. This way, the birthday boy or girl doesn't blow their germs directly onto the cake, and the cake remains protected under the cover.
Blow Candles with a Hairdryer
A variation on the COVID-safe birthday hack is to blow out the candles using a hairdryer instead of your breath. This way, you can still enjoy the tradition of blowing out the candles without spreading germs onto the cake.
Use a Blowzee
Mark Apelt invented a tool called Blowzee, a kazoo-like device with a fan on one end. The birthday boy or girl can blow into the tool, activating the fan and blowing out the candles without spitting on the cake. This way, you can still make wishes and maintain a germ-free cake.
Use Trick Candles
Another option is to use "trick" or "magic" candles, which have a special substance, usually magnesium, added to the wick. When you blow out these candles, the ember ignites the magnesium dust, causing the candle to relight automatically as if by magic. This can be a fun and surprising way to blow out candles during a pandemic, as guests can be entertained by the relighting candles while staying safe.
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The science behind trick or magic candles
The tradition of placing candles on birthday cakes can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks, who often burned candles as offerings to their gods and goddesses. The Greeks made round, moon-shaped cakes offered to the lunar goddess Artemis, who doubled as the goddess of the hunt. They placed lit candles on the cakes to symbolise the glowing moon, and the light reflected off the cakes. The Greeks believed that candles could ward off evil spirits, and when blown out, the candles could carry their prayers to the gods.
Fast forward to the present, and birthday candles have evolved to include "trick" or "magic" candles that relight themselves after being blown out. These candles are often used for pranks at birthday parties, causing endless fun as the birthday person keeps blowing them out, only to see them flicker back to life.
So, what's the science behind these trick candles?
The magic behind trick candles lies in a special ingredient called magnesium, an alkaline earth metal that burns very brightly and at a high temperature. Magnesium powder is incorporated into the candle's wick, and when the candle is lit, the flame melts the wax and ignites the magnesium powder sprinkled along the wick. This powder continues to burn even when the candle is blown out, igniting the candle wick again and making it appear as though the candle is magically relighting.
Magnesium is highly flammable and can ignite at temperatures as low as 800°F (430°C) when powdered or shaved into thin strips. When the candle is blown out, the ember that remains is hot enough to ignite the magnesium dust on the wick, which then gets hot enough to ignite the paraffin vapour back into a flame.
To truly extinguish a trick candle, one must snuff it out or dunk it in water to cut off its oxygen supply and prevent the flame from reigniting.
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The evolution of birthday customs and traditions
The tradition of celebrating birthdays is a universal custom that has been observed for thousands of years, with different customs and traditions evolving over time. The earliest instances of birthday festivities can be traced back to ancient civilizations that marked the passage of time in an individual's life. The inception of birthday celebrations is often attributed to the ancient Egyptians, who offered gifts and feasts to honour the coronation of a god-king, considered a moment of rebirth. From these regal beginnings, the tradition spread to the Greeks, who made round, moon-shaped cakes and offered them to the lunar goddess Artemis, along with burning candles as offerings to their gods. The Greeks also believed that candles warded off evil spirits, and when blown out, carried their prayers to the gods.
By the 18th century, birthday celebrations became more widespread, particularly in Germany, where the festival Kinderfest featured cakes with a single candle for each year of life. The tradition of blowing out candles and making a wish is believed to have originated in ancient Greece, and it is considered bad luck if all the candles are not extinguished in one breath. This custom spread to other cultures, including the Romans, who further democratized the celebration by extending festivities beyond royalty.
Birthday customs continued to evolve, with the Industrial Revolution making it easier to organize parties, and the rise of the middle class leading to more people celebrating in style. Birthday celebrations became even more popular in the 19th century, especially in the United States, with the introduction of birthday cakes and candles. Today, birthday celebrations vary widely, from intimate gatherings to large parties with music and entertainment.
Birthday customs and traditions vary across different cultures, with unique rituals and beliefs attached to them. In some places, the birthday person is pinched "to grow an inch" instead of receiving a punch "for luck". In Brazil, Hungary, Spain, and other countries, the birthday person's earlobes are pulled, with a Hungarian rhyme wishing them a long life. In Mexico and Venezuela, it is customary to push the birthday person's face into the cake when they blow out the candles. In South Africa, birthdays are highly celebrated with big white tents symbolizing grand festivities, and gifts ranging from toys to animal sacrifices. In English-speaking countries, the traditional "Happy Birthday" song is sung, and in Western countries, adults' birthday parties are often held in restaurants, bars, or nightclubs.
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Frequently asked questions
The tradition of placing candles on birthday cakes can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks, who offered round, moon-shaped cakes adorned with lit candles to the lunar goddess Artemis. The candles were lit to make the cakes glow like the moon. It was believed that the smoke from the candles carried wishes and prayers to the gods, and also helped to ward off evil spirits. Failing to blow out all the candles in one breath indicates that your birthday wish won't come true and that you will have bad luck throughout the year.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people looked for alternative ways to blow out birthday candles without spreading germs. Some suggestions include using a handheld hairdryer to blow out the candles, carefully pushing the candles through an upside-down paper plate, or using a disposable funnel with its own tiny filter to remove bacteria and viruses from a person's breath.
"Magic" or "trick" candles are a type of candle that automatically relights after being blown out due to the presence of magnesium in the wick, which burns quickly at a low temperature. These candles are often used to play pranks on people.
Besides birthday candles, there are scented candles, tea lights, church and synagogue candles, and candles used for lighting rooms.
