Editing Birthday cake (section)

==History==
[[File:Pancraz Körle Die Geburtstagstorte.jpg|thumb|upright|left|''The Birthday Cake'' by 19th-century German [[genre painter]] Pancraz Körle.]]
Birthday cakes have been a part of birthday celebrations in Western European countries since the middle of the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newenglandrecipes.org/html/birthday-cake.html|title=Birthday Cakes: History & Recipes – Online article with an extensive bibliography}}</ref> However, the link between cakes and birthday celebrations may date back to ancient Roman times; in [[Ancient Rome|classical Roman culture]], cakes were occasionally served at special birthdays and at [[wedding]]s. These were circles made from flour and nuts, leavened with yeast, and sweetened with honey.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Humble |first=Nicola |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qclZyk87j_EC&q=cake%3A+a+global+history&pg=PA19 |title=Cake: A Global History |date=2010-05-15 |publisher=Reaktion Books |isbn=978-1-86189-730-5 |language=en}}</ref>

In Germany by the 18th century, the tradition of celebrating birthdays with a birthday cake and candles began
. One of the most notable occasions where using a birthday cake with candles took form was during Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf of Marienborn's birthday party in 1746 in Germany.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Gage |first=Mary |date=2012 |title=Birthday Cakes: History & Recipes |url=https://mobile.newenglandrecipes.org/Birthday-Cake.pdf |journal=New England Recipes |pages=1}}</ref> His cake was said to be as big as an oven could make it, with candles stuck in it, marking the years of his age.<ref name=":1" /> From the 18th century, elaborate cakes continued to take form, having many aspects of the contemporary birthday cake, like multiple layers, icing, and decorations. However, these cakes were only available to the very wealthy. Birthday cakes became accessible to the lower class as a result of the industrial revolution and the spread of more materials and goods.