Saturday, April 4, 2020

Superstitious Saturday Candles



Superstitious Saturday Candles

The tradition of extinquishing candles on a birthday cake by blowing on them is believed to come from the ancient Greeks. Thy baked round cakes and would add candles to them when they sought to ask Artemis (the moon goddess) for favors. The round shape of the cake represented the moon. In addition, the rising smoke from the candles was said to carry wishes upward to the gods.

Then there is the idea that this tradition started instead with the Germans in 1746 when Count Ludwig Von Zinzindorf celebrated his birthday with a great festival that included a cake adorned with candles. According to https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/54069/why-do-we-blow-out-candles-birthday-cakes:

“The Germans also celebrated with birthday candles during Kinderfest, a birthday celebration for children in the 1700s. A single birthday candle was lit and placed on the cake to symbolize the “light of life.”

Today’s superstition of blowing out candles also includes the idea that if you tell anyone what you wished for it will instead bring bad luck. Scary.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Superstitious Secret #201:
“Blowing out birthday candles is believed to come from the Greeks.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.”
― William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

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