Never blow out your birthday candles on the cake
As part of a fine dining etiquette workshop, a chef explains why blowing out the candles on a birthday cake is a big no-no.
Birthdays are meant to be celebrated, and what's a celebration without cake?
Well, an age-old tradition that forms part of the excitement of having a birthday cake on your birthday has some refinements we weren't aware of.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we were advised to avoid blowing out candles on cakes, as doing so could spread germs, potentially even the virus.
Fast forward to 2025, and while many have returned to the
tradition, the risks of spreading germs and viruses remain just as
relevant.
A chef who hosts workshops on fine dining shared an interesting fact about blowing out birthday candles.
She explained that it’s never appropriate to blow out candles directly on the cake. The reason? By doing so, you’re essentially sharing your "spit" with everyone eating a slice of cake.
During her workshop, she clarified that there’s a proper way to blow out the candle: remove it from the cake, blow it out away from the cake, and then place the candle on a side plate.
Now, try explaining that rule to an excited toddler whose instinct is to blow out those candles with a big puff!
Watch her explain this handy tip on fine dining etiquette – courtesy of Instagram.
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Image courtesy of iStock