The cake, or sometimes a pastry or dessert, is served to a person on
his or her birthday. In contemporary Western cultures, the birthday
person blows out the candles on the cake after those celebrating have
sung the birthday song.
The service of a birthday cake is often preceded by the singing of "Happy Birthday to You"
in English speaking countries, or an equivalent birthday song in the
appropriate language of that country. In fact, the phrase "Happy
Birthday" did not appear on birthday cakes until the song "Happy
Birthday to You" was popularized in the early 1900s. Variations on
birthday song rituals exist. For example, in New Zealand, "Happy
Birthday to You" is sung and is followed by clapping, once for each year
of the person's life and once more for good luck. In Uruguay, party
guests touch the birthday person's shoulder or head following the
singing of "Happy Birthday to You". In Ecuador, sometimes the birthday person will take a large bite off the birthday cake before it is served.
The birthday cake is often decorated
with small taper candles, secured with special holders or simply
pressed down into the cake. In North America, Australasia and the U.K.,
the number of candles is equal to the age of the individual whose
birthday it is, sometimes with one extra for luck. Traditionally, the
birthday person makes a private wish, which will be realized if all the
candles are extinguished in a single breath.
In North America, birthday cake is often served with ice cream.
To represent a sharing of joy and togetherness, the cake is shared
amongst all the guests attending the party. As a courtesy, it reflects
one's hospitality and respect for guests.
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