It’s a ritual we all know by heart: you gather around the cake, the lights dim, everyone sings, and for one brief moment, all eyes are on you as you lean in, make a wish, and blow out the candles. But have you ever stopped to wonder: Why are there candles on a birthday cake at all? Where did this strange little ceremony come from? And why do we blow them out after making a secret wish? The tradition is far older than most people realize—and its history includes Greek goddesse