Chennai: With the Tamil Nadu government planning to give cakes to students on the occasion of Children’s Day, this columnist, a cake lover, reflected on how cakes continue to be an integral part of almost every celebration in our lives.
Decades ago, birthdays were celebrated in a simple manner at home with family members and a few friends.
A small cake bought from a neighbourhood bakery was enough to make the birthday girl/boy feel very special.
It was usually the traditional vanilla or buttercream cake with a few decorative roses and the birthday person’s name written on it.
Cutting the cake, blowing out candles and sharing the slices with everyone were enjoyed and cherished for years.
With changing times, cakes have undergone a makeover.
They have evolved into elaborate creations, ranging from chocolate truffle, Black Forest and pineapple cakes to theme-based and photo cakes.
With birthday cakes becoming statement pieces now, people go for multi-tier cakes, edible photographs, exotic flavours and customised designs.
Social media has also fuelled the trend with people wanting to capture and share picture-perfect birthday moments.
Cakes are no longer restricted to birthdays and Christmas alone.
Over the years, cakes have become the heart of almost every celebration and milestone.
From engagements, wedding anniversaries and baby showers to retirement parties, housewarming ceremonies, team achievement, business inaugurations, promotions and farewell gatherings, cutting a cake has become a customary way of marking a special occasion.
Cake-cutting photographs and videos are often shared on social media, making the occasion even more memorable.
However, not all such celebrations have ended on a sweet note.
In recent years, cakes have been cut with weapons and such violent displays of bravado have landed some in jail.
Ultimately, it is not the size, flavour or design of the cake that makes a birthday memorable, but the people who gather around it, sing the familiar birthday song and share a sweet moment together.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
