Birthday Cakes: History & Recipes by Mary Gage & James Gage
Birthday Cakes: History & Recipes By Mary Gage & James Gage Copyright © 2012. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this article may be republished without written permission from the authors. www.NewEnglandRecipes.org History and Origins of Birthday Cakes & Candles The tradition of celebrating a person’s birthday with a birthday cake and lit candles originated in 18 th century Germany. In 1746, Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf of Marienborn Germany celebrated his birthday. Andrew Frey, one of the guests, gave a detailed account of the party: “… the Houses to be illuminated on that day, which was accordingly done. They fetch Waggons full of Boughs, and with them covered the whole inside of the Count’s Hall, which is a hundred feet long, and forty wide … that it looked like an Arbour, and also hung up three brass Chandeliers, each of seven candles. In it also are four Pillars which were hung full of Lights spirally disposed. Wooden Letters above two Feet long were made to form the Name of LUDWIG VON ZINZENDORF, and these being gilded with Gold, were fixed to the Wall amidst a Blaze of Lights. The seats were covered with fine Linen set of with very sightly Ribbons. A Table also was made, representing the initial Letters of the Name of the Person who was the Subject of the Festival; there was a Cake as large as any Oven could be found to bake it, and Holes made in the Cake according to the Years of the Person’s Age, every one having a Candle stuck into it, and one in the Middle; the Outside of the Court was adorned with Festoons and foliage …” [Frey, 1753: 15] In Germany, children’s as well adults’ birthdays were also celebrated with birthday cakes.
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