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Why we celebrate birthdays with a cake remains a mystery. Supposedly the Greeks presented cakes to Artemis, goddess of the moon â€" maybe the first to say “τι επιθυμήσατε για†(what did you wish for?). In ancient Rome, a person’s 50th birthday featured a honey cake made of wheat flour, grated cheese, honey, and olive oil. The vomitorium was invented shortly thereafter. Germans also used cakes, known as Geburtstagorten to celebrate birthdays. As for the decision to put candles on cakes â€" again historians said the Greeks did this to give Artemis’s offerings the impression the cake glowed like the moon.
Just like other history subjects, however, it’s unlikely this really means squat to the kids who, when you boil it down, just want a second piece of cake.
More than flour and water, a birthday cake represents tradition, security, celebration and love. And yet, not to sound all “Feed the Children-ish,†but not every child has a wish to count on via the magic of candle telepathy. You can’t have your cake and eat it too, and for some kids, they get neither. Until Toni Poulos, that is, decided to do something about it.
The Trenton, Ga., resident started Cakes for Kids in 2008 to provide, on the honor system, cakes for the asking. Parents stressed out, broke, (even lazy I suppose) may request a cake from her organization, which has since baked into more than 11 chapters nationwide, including one based out of DuPont.
Read my story on Mischelle Devine-Nunner and her Free Cakes for Kids aimed at the South Sound on the Weekly Volcano’s Web Site.