Most of our birthday parties include the ritual of blowing out candles. What does this signify?
One of the most anticipated days of the year is undoubtedly a birthday. Everyone looks forward to this special occasion to gather with loved ones and receive the best wishes.
The ritual of blowing out candles on a birthday.
Lighting and blowing out candles is considered an essential part of any birthday celebration. We do this as a tradition, but not everyone knows its significance.
So, when did the ritual of blowing out candles on birthdays begin? Why do we do this?
In the early days of human history, when the concept of a birthday had not yet emerged, people regarded their birth date as just another ordinary day.
In ancient times, unless one belonged to the nobility, birthdays were primarily used for astrological purposes.
The concept of a birthday was first mentioned in a biblical book called “God Created the World.” Nearly 4,000 years ago, a pharaoh celebrated his birthday by hosting a lavish feast with powerful figures from the political regime of that time to mark his birth as a deity.
The tradition of lighting and blowing out candles on birthdays is believed to have originated in ancient Greece.
During this period, people worshipped the moon goddess, Artemis, and celebrated her birthday every year. On those days, an altar for the goddess would typically feature a cake made from eggs, flour, and honey, topped with many lit candles. The light from these candles was thought to represent the twinkling light of the moon, allowing people to express their devotion to the moon goddess.
People believed that the lit candles held some mystical power and that blowing them out would make wishes come true. Therefore, the Greeks maintained this tradition whenever they celebrated a birthday, hoping for the best for the child. This practice has been passed down to the present day and is popular in many countries around the world.
