The Origin of Birthday Cake and Candles
Ever wonder why we put candles on our birthday cakes? Here's the beat answer I've found.
We put candles on birthday cakes to honor the birthday person - usually one candle for each year. The custom goes back to the ancient Greeks, when worshippers of Artemis, goddess of the moon and hunting, used to put honey cakes on the altars of her temple on the sixth day of every month. It was believed that the candles had the power to grant a wish and ensure a happy year. The wish had to remain secret and would come true only if all the candles were blown out with one puff. The candles lost their magical power if the wish was uttered aloud.
There you go.