Contemporary rites Child with Snow White Cake, circa 1930–1940 The cake, pastry, or dessert is served to a person on their birthday. In contemporary Western cultures, the cake is topped with one or more lit candles, which the celebrated individual attempts to blow out. There is no standard for birthday cakes, though the "Happy Birthday" song is often sung while the cake is served in English-speaking countries, or an equivalent birthday song in the appropriate language of the country. The phrase "happy birthday" did not appear on birthday cakes until the song "Happy Birthday to You" was popularized in the early 1900s. Variations of birthday songs and rituals exist in different parts of the world. In Uruguay, party guests touch the person's shoulder or head following the singing of "Happy Birthday to You". In Ecuador, the person whose birthday it is will take a large bite of the birthday cake before it is served. In Peru, guests used to sing "Happy Birthday to You" first in English with the name of the individual whose birthday it is , then in Spanish, later they sing any other song in Spanish regarding cake or date, finally blowing candles and serving the cake. The birthday cake is    often decorated with small candles, secured with special holders or simply pressed down into the cake. The cake can also be served with other sweets such as ice cream. In the UK, North America and Australia, the number of candles is equal to the age of the individual whose birthday it is, sometimes with one extra for luck. Traditionally, the person whose birthday it is makes a wish, which is thought to come true if all the candles are extinguished in a single breath. To represent a sharing of joy and a sense of togetherness, the cake is shared amongst all the guests attending the party. Candles and theories of origin%DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% Modern Celebration Candles. In many cultures the person whose birthday is being celebrated is invited to make a wish, and blow out candles. Though the exact origin and significance of this ritual is unknown, there are multiple theories which try to explain this tradition. Bacteriology  In June 2017 researchers at Clemson University reported that some individuals deposit a large number of bacteria on the cake   .
Contemporary rites Child with Snow White Cake, circa 1930–1940 The cake, pastry, or dessert is served to a person on their birthday. There is no standard for birthday cakes, though the "Happy Birthday" song is often sung while the cake is served in English-speaking countries, or an equivalent birthday song in the appropriate language of the country. The phrase "happy birthday" did not appear on birthday cakes until the song "Happy Birthday to You" was popularized in the early 1900s. Variations of birthday songs and rituals exist in different parts of the world. In Uruguay, party guests touch the person's shoulder or head following the singing of "Happy Birthday to You". To represent a sharing of joy and a sense of togetherness, the cake is shared amongst all the guests attending the party. It may also be served with other sweets such as ice cream. Candles and theories of origin Modern Celebration Candles. In many cultures, the person with the birthday is traditionally invited to make a wish. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the birthday cake was often decorated with small candles, secured with special holders or simply pressed down into the cake. In many Western countries, the number of candles would usually be equal to the age of the individual whose birthday it is, sometimes with one extra for luck. The person whose birthday it would makes a wish, which was thought to come true if all the candles were extinguished in a single breath. %DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% Though the exact origin and significance of this ritual is unknown, there are multiple theories which try to explain this tradition. Bacteriology and COVID-19 In June 2017 researchers at Clemson University reported that some individuals deposit a large number of bacteria on the cake .. The global COVID-19 pandemic has seen a shift in global cultural attitudes regarding hygiene and social interaction. Because of this, birthday candles have since seen a decline in popularity with celebrants turning to alternative ceremonies such as applauding at the end of the birthday song, or placing sparklers on cakes in lieu of candles .
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In Ecuador, the person whose birthday it is will take a large bite of the birthday cake before it is served. In Peru, guests used to sing "Happy Birthday to You" first in English with the name of the individual whose birthday it is , then in Spanish, later they sing any other song in Spanish regarding cake or date, finally blowing candles and serving the cake.
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The global COVID-19 pandemic has seen a shift in global cultural attitudes regarding hygiene and social interaction. Because of this, birthday candles have since seen a decline in popularity with celebrants turning to alternative ceremonies such as applauding at the end of the birthday song, or placing sparklers on cakes in lieu of candles