Where and when did the "birthday cake" first originate? When did candles enter into the picture?

Sofie

The birthday cake has been an integral part of the birthday tradition in Western cultures since the middle of the 19th century. The cake, or sometimes a pastry or dessert, is served to a person on his or her birthday, and is often decorated with small novelty candles, with the person's name and/or a message of congratulations inscribed with icing. The phrase "Happy Birthday" did not appear on birthday cakes until the song Happy Birthday to You was popularized in the early 1900s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthday_cake Before the domestication of electricity, candles were a common source of lighting, before, and later in addition to, the oil lamp. Due to local availability and the cost of resources, for several centuries up to the 19th century candles were more common in northern Europe, and olive oil lamps more common in southern Europe and around the Mediterranean Sea. Makers of candles were known as chandlers. Today, candles are usually used for their aesthetic value, particularly to set a soft, warm, or romantic ambience, and for emergency lighting during electrical power failures. Scented candles are common in aromatherapy. Small candles are often placed on birthday cakes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candle#Usage Mar 14 07, 9:19 AM