A Quick History of the Birthday Cake NOV

Birthday cakes are such a big part of our traditions, but have you stopped and wondered what the history of the birthday cake is? Read this post by Great Harvest of Newtonville for some interesting facts on cake!

The First Birthday Cakes

There are several accepted origin stories for birthday cakes; some historians believe they date back to ancient Roman wedding traditions. It was customary to break a cake on top of a bride’s head to symbolize good fortune. This cake was very different from our modern cakes as it was made out of yeast, nuts, sweetened with honey, and decorated with flowers. Still, it started a tradition of marking important celebrations by eating cake. We probably have germans from the 15th century to thank for starting to use cake for birthday celebrations. Even though these cakes were still very different from the ones we have nowadays, their purpose was similar to modern birthday cakes. Around the 17th century, cakes started resembling modern cakes made out of layers and were sweeter. That being said, these cakes were expensive to make as things like sugar were harder to come by back then. Thanks to the industrial revolution, materials to make cakes became much more common, thus making birthday cakes much easier to make.

Having birthday cake is great, but if you’re looking for fresh bread for your everyday needs Great Harvest Bread Co in Newtonville, MA, has everything you need. Their bread is baked daily and is made with the best ingredients. Call them today at 617-928-1162 to ask about their lunch menu!

How Candles Made It on to Birthday Cakes

Candles on a birthday cake also have a curious history as they’re a mix of several different traditions with candles and superstition. The first recorded instance of candles being used on a cake was back in ancient Greece, where cakes were an offering to the goddess Artemis, and they were meant to symbolize the moon, and lighting candles on them represented the light the moon emits. As for candles on birthday cake, Germans would light a candle in the middle of the cake, symbolizing the light of life. This, paired with what is believed to be pagan traditions of blowing out the candles to make wishes, brought us the modern tradition of birthday candles and wishes.

At Great Harvest Bread Co., bread is made daily with pure, simple ingredients. Visit their website today to look at their menu, or give them a call at 617-928-1162 to place your order!

Birthday Cakes Today

Today, birthday cakes are a big deal. From the deliciously homemade variety to the fancy and elaborate birthday cakes, there is a style for every person. Birthday cake is so important to our culture that a birthday party wouldn’t be complete without blowing the candles and cutting the cake. There have been many different styles of cakes throughout the years, from the most simple sheet cakes to elaborate fondant creations, but like with everything, cakes go through trends. Let’s go over some of the current cake trends:

• Naked cakes: Naked cakes have had their space in the spotlight for a while now, since 2013 to be exact. These cakes have less icing than traditional cakes and put their beautiful layers on display for all to see. Even though naked cakes seem easy to make, there’s a bit of skill that goes into a well-executed naked cake, and the results are a deliciously, not too sweet dessert.
• Vintage cakes: These types of cakes use heavy buttercream detailing and reminisce of the wedding cakes of the early 20th century but are redone in a fresh and new way.
• Minimalist cakes: The decoration for minimalist cakes has perfectly smooth buttercream and nicely written script on top. The most recent trend of minimalist birthday cakes comes from Korean decorating techniques that have perfected the art of minimalist buttercream.
• Flower cakes: Another decorating technique that has been popular in recent years is to incorporate edible or sugar flowers into the cake design.

Birthday cakes are also a tradition around the world. Many countries have their version of the birthday cake, and while recipes and decorating techniques might change from country to country, the tradition of blowing candles and cutting the cake is celebrated worldwide.

If you’re looking for freshly made bread in Newtonville, MA, your best option is Great Harvest Bread Co. We’re sure you’ll find the perfect thing to take home with deliciously nutritious bread baked daily and an excellent lunch menu. Call them today at 617-928-1162 to place your order.