Brooke Martin
The COVID-19 pandemic has made people more conscious about how germs spread and has brought about a change in many traditions, including the blowing out of birthday candles. Blowing out candles can spread virus particles if the person blowing the candles is infected. This has led people to find creative alternatives to this tradition, such as using a paper fan or a hairdryer to extinguish the candles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Risk | Blowing out candles can expel virus particles if the person is infected. |
| Risk Mitigation | Celebrate outdoors or separate the candles from the cake. |
| Alternatives | Using a paper fan, a hair dryer, a paper plate, or a small handheld battery-operated fan to extinguish the candles. |
| Alternatives | The guest of honor blows out a candle on an individual cupcake. |
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What You'll Learn
Use a hairdryer, paper plate, or fan to blow out candles
While the risk of viral transfer from blowing out candles is minuscule, you might want to consider using a hairdryer, paper plate, or fan to blow out candles during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Using a hairdryer is a creative way to blow out candles without actually blowing on them. Simply turn on the hairdryer and direct the airflow towards the candles. Make sure to use the low setting, especially if the cake has ice cream on it, to avoid melting the dessert.
Another innovative way to blow out candles is by using a paper plate. Wave a clean paper plate towards the candles to extinguish the flames. This method ensures that no spit or breath makes contact with the cake.
You can also use a fan to blow out the candles. A handheld, battery-operated fan can be used to create a gust of wind strong enough to put out the candles. Alternatively, you could use a paper fan, such as a foldable Asian-style fan, to extinguish the flames. These methods are sanitary and can add an element of fun to the celebration.
Remember, if you choose to blow out the candles in the traditional manner, it is recommended to do so only around people in your immediate family or quarantine bubble. Separating the cake and candles can also help reduce the risk of spreading germs.
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Separate the cake and candles
The COVID-19 pandemic has made people more conscious of how germs spread and the health risks associated with certain traditions, such as blowing out birthday candles. While the risk of viral transfer from blowing out candles is minimal, there are ways to make the tradition safer, especially if the birthday boy or girl is a runny-nosed toddler.
One way to reduce the risk is to separate the cake and candles. This can be done by providing a separate "smash cake" for the birthday boy or girl to blow out their candles. This cake can be a small, round, coordinating cake or cupcake, covered in candles. This way, the child can drool and fondle over their own cake, without spreading germs to the main cake, which will be shared with others.
Another way to separate the cake and candles is to use a clean paper plate to wave out the candles. This creates a physical barrier between the breath and the cake, reducing the number of germs that come into contact with the food. A similar method involves using a foldable paper fan or a small handheld battery-operated fan to blow out the candles. These alternatives to blowing can be fun and creative, and they ensure that the cake remains relatively germ-free.
For those who want to keep the tradition of blowing out candles alive, separating the cake and candles is a simple and effective way to ensure safety. Even before the pandemic, this tradition was not always encouraged due to the spread of bacteria. A study published in the Journal of Food Research showed that blowing out candles resulted in 1400% more bacteria on the icing compared to when the candles were not blown out. Therefore, by providing a separate cake or using creative methods to blow out the candles, people can enjoy the tradition while reducing the risk of germ spread.
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Blow out candles on an individual cupcake
The COVID-19 pandemic has made people more conscious about how germs spread, and the tradition of blowing out birthday candles on a cake is one of the many traditions that have come under scrutiny.
If you want to blow out candles on an individual cupcake during COVID, here are some ideas to do it safely:
Firstly, you could separate the cupcake and the candles to ensure safety, as suggested by Kachur. This way, you can avoid blowing directly on the cupcake that you or others will be eating. Place the cupcake with the candle in front of you and blow out the candle, ensuring that you maintain a safe distance from the cupcake.
Another creative way to blow out candles is to use a personal fan, such as a handheld battery-operated fan, a handheld hair dryer, or a foldable paper fan, to blow out the candles on the cupcake without spreading germs.
Additionally, you can opt for a disposable funnel device like the Original Blow-Out, which comes with a tiny filter that removes most bacteria and viruses from the breath as one blows out the candles.
Finally, if you're making cupcakes for a group, you can let each person blow out their own candle on their individual cupcake, ensuring that everyone has their own cupcake to eat without worrying about germs from blowing candles.
These suggestions can help you safely blow out candles on an individual cupcake while being mindful of COVID-19 concerns.
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Clap to extinguish a light-up candle
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people became more conscious of how germs spread, and the tradition of blowing out birthday candles was questioned. While the risk of viral transfer from blowing out candles is minimal, there are creative alternatives to this tradition. One such idea is using light-up candles that can be extinguished with a clap.
To clap and extinguish a light-up candle, you can follow these steps:
- Light the candle: Before you can extinguish the candle, you will need to light it first. Place the candle in a safe location, away from flammable objects or materials that could catch fire. Ensure that the candle is securely standing upright and will not be easily knocked over.
- Gather everyone around: Part of the joy of birthday celebrations is the communal act of gathering around the cake and singing together. This tradition can be maintained while still being mindful of health and safety. Ensure there is enough space for everyone to stand or sit comfortably at a safe distance from the cake and the person whose birthday it is.
- Sing and clap: Once everyone is gathered, start the birthday song and build up the excitement. On the final note or word of the song, everyone should clap their hands together. The clapping serves two purposes: it provides a fun and festive way to mark the occasion, and it also acts as the signal to extinguish the light-up candle.
- Extinguish with a clap: As everyone claps, the light-up candle will be designed to respond to the sound and turn off, simulating the act of blowing out a candle without the potential spread of germs. The clapping can be sustained for a few moments to ensure the candle fully 'blows out'.
- Enjoy the cake: With the candle safely extinguished, you can now enjoy the cake without worrying about the spread of bacteria or germs. This method ensures that the tradition of blowing out candles can continue while also addressing the concerns of those who are conscious of sanitary practices.
By following these steps, you can safely and joyfully incorporate light-up candles that extinguish with a clap into your birthday celebrations, creating memorable and festive moments while being mindful of health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic or any other time when sanitary practices are a priority.
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Blow candles only with your household
Blowing out birthday candles is a tradition that has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The act of blowing out candles can spread virus particles, similar to breathing, talking, or coughing. Therefore, it is essential to take precautions, especially if there are individuals outside of your household present.
If you want to blow out candles with your household members only, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to assess the risk level within your household. If there are children present, they can spread the virus without showing any symptoms, so it might be best to avoid the tradition altogether if you have older or high-risk individuals in your household.
However, if you decide to proceed, you can take some simple precautions. One option is to separate the cake and the candles, as suggested by S. Patrick Kachur, a professor of population and family health. This way, you can still blow out the candles while reducing the risk of contaminating the cake. Alternatively, you can use a personal cupcake for the candle-blowing, as suggested by Today Food.
If you want to avoid the risk altogether, there are some creative alternatives to blowing out candles. You could use a paper plate, a paper fan, or a small handheld battery-operated fan to wave out the candles. Another fun idea is to use a hairdryer on a low setting to extinguish the flames, or you could try out the new light-up, no-blow candles that react to sound.
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Frequently asked questions
Blowing out birthday candles can expel virus particles if the person blowing the candles is infected. Therefore, it is recommended to only blow out birthday candles around people in your immediate family or quarantine bubble.
Some alternatives to blowing out birthday candles include using a paper fan, a handheld hair dryer, or a small handheld battery-operated fan to extinguish the candles.
Precautions that can be taken to reduce the risk of spreading the virus when blowing out birthday candles include celebrating outdoors, separating the cake and candles, and ensuring that only people within the same household are present.
Blowing out birthday candles can spread virus particles, especially if the person blowing the candles is infected and is in an indoor or public area. Therefore, it is recommended to be cautious about who you invite to your birthday celebrations during the pandemic.
