The Long and Ancient History of Cakes
January 18th, 2016
The origin and symbolism!
All of us relish on a bite of cake on joyous events like weddings and anniversaries or even at home when we get sudden craving to indulge in some sweetness. But have you ever wondered how your most favourite dessert came to be? The very long and ancient history of cake is pretty rich in symbolisms and customs from various countries and beliefs, all coming forward together to give existence to the cakes that we eat today.
If the food historians are worth lending an ear to, the very first culture to show record of baking interest were the ancient Egyptians. Ancient Egyptians were probably annoyed with the meat and wanted to try something different. They were more interested towards bread and as an alternative to sugar; honey was used by them as a sweetening agent. Cake, the word, hails from the Viking origin. Cake comes from the Norse word “kaka”.
A Cake is a symbolism of the value of the person it is baked for because in the ancient Egyptian days, the ingredients dried food, nuts and refined sugar cost a bomb. Although these same ingredients aren’t as expensive now, the message continues to hold truth. Baking is one of the ways to show your love and care for someone.
Cakes were an active part of ancient rituals!
Cakes in the ancient days had a major role to play in beliefs and superstitions, a few of them are carried on to this age. In olden days, the people used cake as an offering to gods and their respective spirits all over the globe. The Chinese celebrated and still celebrate the Harvest Moon festival in honour of moon cakes, which they offer to Moon Goddess. It is in practice till today. Russians have sun cakes, which are called by the name of “blini,” which are thin pancakes made to pray to a deity known as “goddess Maslenitsa”. Egyptians rolled cakes on a hill in the festival of Beltane, which would be celebrated on the first day of the season of spring, for mimicking the solar movement. A rich history and relation of humans with cakes is not a wonder they are so important in our lives.
The history behind round shape of cakes!
Although, nowadays, you can find a variety of shapes from heart-shaped cartoon characters, themed ones and lots more yet talking about a regular and simple one, a cakes is traditionally always round. This is pretty deep after but round cakes are a symbol of the cyclical nature life has. The round shape of the moon and sun is probably the reason cakes are round; focusing we are about to start on a new journey in our lives.
Ancient breads were also round in shape, cut into round balls, baked in round and shallow pans.
So, the cake, which you are so crazy about, the cake, which never misses your celebrations, and the cake, which one can send across through cake delivery UK was not born out of nowhere! So, spread sweetness and these facts with cake delivery.