Origins of ceremonial cakes

Cakes have been used in ceremonies and rituals from time immemorial. Many ancient civilizations made cakes but they were very different from the cakes we know today. The word “Cake” is derived from the Norse word "kaka" which is of Viking origin. Cakes in its modern form arrived in the 19th century with rapid advancements in baking techniques and introduction of new equipments. Considered as a novelty before, cakes are now the most popular food for all the masses.

A popular food item all around the world is cakes.  They also have a long history of association with human traditions and culture. Cakes have been used in ceremonies and rituals from time immemorial in different cultures and societies. People have learnt to make cakes ever since the dawn of civilization. The discovery of flour is synonymous with the beginnings of cakes. Neolithic men made simple cakes made from crushed grains which were heated on a stone. In the olden times, cakes were used as offerings to gods and spirits in rituals and religious ceremonies. The ancient Chinese prepared round cakes during the Harvest Moon festival in honor of the lunar god. The Celts also prepared round cakes which they rolled down a hill in imitation of the solar cycle, on the occasion of Beltane.  The Greeks used to call cakes by the name of “plakous” which also came to be known as “placenta,” during the Roman period. They were flat cakes made with nuts and dry fruits, and primarily used in religious ceremonies as offerings to their gods. The word “Cake” is derived from the Norse word "kaka" which is of Viking origin and the Oxford English Dictionary traces the origin of the word back to the 13th century.

But the cakes of the ancient times were very different from the cakes that we know of today. The cakes were more on the bread side, and the only marked difference between bread and cakes was cakes were sweetened instead. The ancient Egyptians are considered to be the first culture to show evidence of advanced baking skills but there cakes were also filled with dry fruits and sweetened with honey instead of sugar.  The precursors of modern cakes originated from Europe around the middle of the 17th century where the bakers used to make cakes that even lasted for months. Cakes in its modern form arrived only in the middle of the 19th century with rapid advancements in baking techniques and introduction of new equipment.

Cakes were an exclusive item in the old days. The high costs of ingredients and production made cakes unreachable from the masses. They were a privilege of the rich and upper class only. After the industrial revolution, food grain production increased and the price of ingredients also went down. And with rapid advances in technology, new methods and equipment's for baking were introduced which led to an increased production of cakes. A wide variety of cakes became admirable and their prices went down considerably which made them became affordable for all the masses. Nowadays cakes are a preferred food item for millions all over the world.

Cakes have also retained their ceremonial importance and they are an integral food item at festivals like Thanksgiving and special occasions such as birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. In fact it is hard to imagine a birthday ceremony without a cake.  The birthday cake is the most important piece at birthday parties and cakes also make perfect gifts for the occasion. Nowadays in this wired world of the internet, finding the right cakes for any occasion is a simple affair. One can find exclusive online birthday cake or an anniversary cake at many internet gifts store. Online shopping is a convenient and time saving task and another added benefit of shopping online is that people can arrange an online cake delivery in Delhi for any occasion from any part of the world.