I've been to several celebrations lately and they all served cake, ranging from a lovely sort of spice loaf to a pure white, very sweet vanilla slab, deeply covered in equally sweet white icing. I wondered why we've chosen to celebrate with cake? Why not with pie? Or pudding?
Because I'm lazy, instead of searching for an answer in my brain, I asked AI. They (I'm not ready to give AI a gender) said:
Abundance and prosperity:
Historically, cakes were a luxury item because ingredients like sugar,
fine flour, and butter were expensive. Serving a cake showed a family's
wealth and status. The modern custom of serving cake still retains this
association with celebration and abundance.Togetherness:
Sharing a cake strengthens social bonds and fosters a sense of unity.
Cutting and distributing slices represents a communal sharing of
happiness with friends and family.The sweetness of life:
As a sweet treat, cake has long symbolized the joy and goodness of
life. Its presence helps evoke positive emotions and create a festive
atmosphere.Centrepiece of the celebration:
The decorative and often elaborate nature of cakes makes them the focal
point of a party. The act of gathering around a cake—singing and making
a wish—is a cherished moment that creates lasting memories. Looks like AI is lazy too. These are all true but still beg the question - why cake instead of pie or pudding? So I did search my brain - I think it's because if 50 people show up instead of the 30 you expected, you can just cut the pieces smaller.
Happy beginning of autumn!
