Few traditions feel as universal as gathering around a frosted cake, lighting candles, and singing “Happy Birthday.” While the ritual seems timeless, the story of why we eat cake on our birthdays stretches back thousands of years — winding through ancient temples, Roman banquets, German children’s parties, and American kitchens. Cakes as Sacred Offerings The word “cake” comes from the Old Norse kaka, but cakes in the ancient world looked quite different from today’s airy, sugar-...
