How to Upgrade the Birthday Candle Tradition

Last Updated: July 10, 2023

If the tradition of blowing out the birthday candles takes away your appetite for the cake, perhaps it’s time to institute a less germ-ridden way to honor a birthday person. While saliva sprayed over a cake hasn’t been problematic for centuries, we live in a whole new era of hard-core and antibiotic-resistant bugs. Many folks have weakened immune systems due to age or illness and others simply might want to be cautious. It’s possible to have all the classic birthday traditions; the song, candles and wish-making ceremony, even your usual slice of birthday cake without germs and risking sickness.

Steps

Hold the actual cake aside and put candles on one (or more) cupcakes. Let the celebrant blow away. Put the cupcakes on a decorated, raised pedestal for extra impact. Wrap them for the celebrant to take home for later.
Place a sheet of aluminum foil lightly over the cake. Cut it into the shape of the cake if you wish, round, oblong, etc. For fuller coverage, (and this might be overdoing it,) but lay two pieces of foil at right angles, drape the sheets down the sides of the cake and twist them into an ornamental edge at the around the bottom of the plate. Place the candles on the cake by punching small holes through the foil with a skewer or toothpick. Light the candles and keep the tradition of having the guest of honor blow them out. After the candle blowing, remove the candles and foil for a cake anyone can eat with gusto. Better to use foil than a combustible product like plastic wrap or waxed paper. If this seems extreme, insist it is a way to surprise the celebrant by keeping the cake under wraps until the last possible moment.

Advertisement
Have the cake a distance away, and bring on the fire in the form of tapers in candle holders, the type normally used to decorate a dining table. Make them special by festooning them with flowers or other decorations. Have the usual procession with a family member or friend bearing the lit candle. Sing the Birthday Song as usual, but have the person blow out the large candle.
This can be as dramatic as you want to make it. You can wow the guests with a safe and attention-getting procession through a darkened room to where the recipient is sitting. You could have even the youngest of children take part since these lights are safe to handle. Have the "light bearers" march in the “candle” procession, finishing by putting all the tea lights in front of the guest of honor. At the end, break into “For she’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”
If the presentation of the cake is done in a dark room, light the way with flashlights from the discount or dollar store. They are really effective and cheap. You can buy surprisingly strong beacons in a variety of shapes and sizes for little cash. Bind them into bouquets with trailing ribbons. Cue people to clap at the end of the song in lieu of watching the candles being blown out. Have a person at the room's light switch and tell the birthday person to blow hard in the direction of the light and tell them to make their birthday wish to get the lights to come back on.
These consist of a switch and switch plate found on the wall. They are intended to illuminate out of the way places that aren't near electrical outlets, but they are a fun item. Make a mock up of a cake from a turned over box covered in paper decorations, or even frosted to resemble a real cake. Set the light switches on the top of the phony cake, quash the room lights and turn the switches. They ought to cast a festive glow. Do some clever thing about turning them off as wishes are made, and nobody will miss candles.
Cover the top of a two or three layer frosted cake with edible chocolate shot glasses or small cups. Push them into the frosting to make them stable. Very carefully, fill each vessel with whatever drink you choose. Flavored milk comes in one serving sizes, so you can mix up colors and flavors of the toasting drinks. Or go with something stronger. It is fun to make an entrance carrying this toasting cake. The participants can toast the guest of honor and then eat the chocolate cups. Candy cups are available at places that sell gourmet foods and stores that sell cake decorating supplies. Plastic shot glasses are fine to use, too.
Striped, multicolored or solid color sticks would look great on top of a cake as a substitute for candles. Wrap small pieces of paper around each stick with a wish on each one for the birthday person. Have the one who gets that candy read the wish aloud to the guest of honor.
Turn over a rectangular box that you have cut down to 3"-4" tall, the size that looks like a typical sheet cake. Paint it with acrylic or tempera to look like a birthday cake. Make copies of photos showing defining moments in the life of the birthday person. Add little handwritten notes describing what is in the photo. Place these little notes on top of the "cake" in a meandering pattern. This will be the Road of Life. At each juncture, where the road turns, mount a birthday candle that you stabilize using a chunk of poster tack as a candle holder. Set this faux cake on a metal tray. Ask the person to read aloud the stops on his "journey." As they comes to a juncture in the Road of Life, using a long-necked lighter, the type for lighting grills, light that candle. Try to get to all the candles before they burn down. If a candle burns down, it ought to extinguish itself when it hits the poster tack, a spongy material. The celebrant can blow out the candles, but then, present the actual cake, cut it and enjoy it.
Just let everyone know in advance when they arrive at the party, so everybody can be fully involved and the new routine will be clear to all.
Just taking the time to make a special effort on someone's behalf is a gift in itself. Enjoy giving and receiving birthday kindness. Take lots of pictures to remember the day.

Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Have the birthday person sit in a special place at the table and stop the action by calling the group to attention. Paying tribute involves giving the guest of honor undivided attention. If necessary, let folks know when they arrive that this will be happening and their attention is required.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Make a cupcake sized pedestal by turning over a wide mouth stem glass. Be creative and look for other dishware a serving dish or dessert goblet that turned upside down and would work as a pedestal. The height makes the lowly cupcake look elegant and fit for a king or queen.

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
As a last resort, if celebrating with diehard traditionalists, do as you have probably been doing and scrape off the icing before eating cake.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Show More Tips

Warnings

Anytime lit candles are used, take extra care to be sure hair is well away from the flame and controlled with headbands, rubber bands, etc. This goes for clothing, too. Sleeves should be turned back, rolled up, neckties tucked in, etc. Use common sense and have nothing trailing that could catch fire.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Keep a fire extinguisher and/or pitcher of water handy in case it is needed.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

How to Upgrade the Birthday Candle Tradition

Steps

Expert Q&A

Tips

Warnings

You Might Also Like

About this article

Did this article help you?

You Might Also Like

Explore Categories