Birthday candles originated in ancient Greece as an offering to Artemis, the goddess of the moon.

The tradition of placing candles on cakes traces back to worshippers of Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon and the hunt. These devotees brought round cakes to the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus to symbolize the full moon. To make the cakes glow like the lunar surface, they placed lit candles on top of the honey-sweetened bread.The Greeks believed that smoke served as a bridge between the mortal and divine worlds. By blowing out the candles, they hoped the smoke would carry their private prayers and wishes up to Mount Olympus. This spiritual practice is the direct ancestor of the modern birthday wish we make before blowing out candles today.While the Greeks established the spiritual foundation, the Germans popularized the birthday connection in the 1700s. During a festival called Kinderfest, a candle was lit for each year of a child's life, plus one extra to represent the "light of life." This tradition was documented in 1746 during a lavish birthday celebration for Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf.By the mid-19th century, the practice had spread across Europe and eventually reached the United States. Today, the ritual has lost its religious connection to Artemis but retains the core elements of celebration and hope. Scholars continue to study these ancient Hellenic rituals to understand how they shaped modern Western customs.