Why Do People Put Out Candles With Their Fingers?

The tradition of blowing out candles on a birthday cake is a beloved ritual practiced around the world. According to a survey, 89% of Americans say it’s important to celebrate birthdays, with 62% still making a wish when blowing out the candles [1]. But why do we go through this peculiar ritual of blowing out candles with our breath or fingers? The act may seem strangely intimate for a public celebration. However, the custom has origins dating back thousands of years and carries a symbolic meaning that persists to this day.

History of Candle Blowing

The tradition of blowing out candles on a birthday cake has ancient origins and rich symbolism. According to sources, the practice dates back to ancient Greece where candles were placed on birthday cakes to represent the gods watching over the celebrant for the coming year (https://thecandleland.com/why-do-we-blow-out-birthday-candles/). Candles were thought to carry one’s wishes and hopes up to the gods who could then grant them.

Later, in the Middle Ages in Germany, candles began to symbolize a ‘light of life’. Friends and family would gather and light candles to protect the birthday celebrant from evil spirits for the coming year. Blowing out the candles represented the ability to snuff out the flames of evil.

The candles also represented time, with each candle symbolizing one year of life. Blowing out all the candles in one breath signified a wish for longevity.

Over time, the tradition evolved into the modern practice of placing candles on a birthday cake. Friends and family gather as the birthday celebrant makes a silent wish and attempts to blow out all the candles in one breath while everyone else sings.

Symbolism of Candles

Candles have held symbolic meaning in rituals, ceremonies, and celebrations across cultures for centuries. The flame of a candle often represents hope, guidance, remembrance, prayer, or communication.

In many religious traditions, candles are lit during worship services, vigils, rituals, or holidays. For example, in Christianity, candles symbolize Jesus Christ as the light of the world and are often placed beside the altar in churches. Advent candles mark the weeks leading up to Christmas. The Paschal candle, lit during Easter, represents the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Judaism, candles are lit on the Sabbath and for Hanukkah. Hindus light candles for Diwali, and Buddhists offer candles at shrines and temples.

Beyond religion, candles feature prominently in celebrations and commemorations. We light birthday candles to represent wishes and hopes for the coming year. Candles adorn wedding cakes as symbols of the joining of two lives. During Día de los Muertos and other remembrance days, candles honor those who have passed. Candlelight vigils bring light to issues or pay tribute to lives lost. The candle’s glow provides comfort, connection, and meaning across cultures and traditions.

Make a Wish

The tradition of making a wish when blowing out birthday candles dates back at least to 18th century Germany. According to German traditions like Kinderfeste, if a child blew out all the candles on their cake with one breath while thinking of a wish, it was believed that wish would come true. The number of candles on the cake often represented the child’s age, so it became a fun game to see if they could blow out that many candles in one try. This lent a sense of magic and anticipation to the birthday celebration.

This tradition spread as Germans immigrated to America and the birthday cake became more popular around the world. Now the act of making a wish on birthday candles has become a standard part of any birthday celebration globally. It’s seen as a lighthearted tradition that adds an element of surprise, fun and even mystery to the festivities. Whether or not the wish actually comes true, the act of making it becomes a special moment between the birthday person and their guests.

While some have theorized the tradition has pagan roots, there is no strong evidence linking it to paganism or early witchcraft. The act of making wishes on birthday candles appears to have arisen simply as a whimsical game associated with German Kinderfeste celebrations. It endures today as a beloved tradition that allows the birthday person to share a private hopeful wish before blowing out their candles.

Extinguishing the Flame

There are several different methods that people use to extinguish the flame of a candle. The most common techniques include using your fingers, using your breath, using a candle snuffer, and using water.

Using your fingers to pinch the wick and put out the flame is perhaps the most well-known method. However, some discourage this practice as it can burn your fingers and drip hot wax. Proper technique involves pinching the wick quickly between your thumb and forefinger to smother the flame (The Indomitable British Butler). Care should be taken to avoid touching the hot melted wax.

Many also choose to simply blow out a candle by exhaling on the flame. A sharp puff of breath aimed directly at the flame can effectively extinguish it. However, blowing across the top of the candle can disperse hot wax. Blowing too lightly may cause the flame to waver and prolong the extinguishing (How To Safely Burn Candles).

Candle snuffers are a tool specifically designed to extinguish candle flames. These long-handled devices cap the flame to put it out. Snuffers allow the user to avoid potential burns. However, they can become dirty with accumulated candle soot over time.

Finally, dripping or spraying a small amount of water onto the flame is an expedient way to extinguish it. The water immediately smothers and cools the flame. But this can leave water marks or spots on surfaces around the candle, so caution must be taken.

Using Your Breath

When you blow air out of your mouth towards a lit candle, you are directing a concentrated stream of air and oxygen towards the flame. According to the University of Illinois Physics Department, blowing on a candle flame cools the gases and wax surface while also disrupting and dispersing the wax vapors surrounding the wick [1]. This makes it more difficult for the flame to access the oxygen it needs to continue burning. Additionally, the fast moving air from your breath blows the flame itself around, essentially blowing it out like you would blow out a match.

The reason a small puff of air can extinguish a flame is because it moves much faster than the natural speed of the flame front. By blowing fast-moving air at the flame, you essentially smother it before it can relight from the remaining heat [2]. So even though the air we exhale still contains oxygen, the force and speed at which we blow it out disrupts the flame enough to put it out.

Using Your Fingers

Many people prefer using their fingers over blowing to extinguish candle flames. Fingers can provide more precise control over snuffing out the flame. This helps avoid the candle continuing to smoke or release wisps of smoke after blowing, which can be unpleasant in an indoor setting.

Quickly running an index finger and thumb down the side of the wick to pinch it is very effective at ceasing combustion. The speed and targeted pressure allows the brief contact to stamp out the flame before fingers get burned. Wetting fingers first provides an extra layer of protection.

Some also believe that using fingers builds a more personal connection, allowing one to transfer their energy into snuffing out the candle. This lends itself better to practices like candle magic or spiritual rituals. However, hygiene is a consideration as fingers may pick up melted wax.

According to research on candle meditation, extinguishing a candle flame can represent control and self-care (https://www.healthline.com/health/candle-meditation). Using fingers gives a precise end to the ritual.

Hygiene Considerations

Blowing out candles on a birthday cake can actually spread germs and bacteria onto the cake. When you blow out the candles, you are essentially spraying tiny droplets of saliva all over the cake. According to a 2017 study published in the Journal of Food Research, blowing out candles increases the amount of bacteria on a cake by 1,400% (Source).

The most common bacteria spread this way are Bacillus, Micrococcus, and Staphylococci. While these bacteria are generally harmless, they can cause illness in people with weakened immune systems (Source). Blowing out candles essentially turns the cake into a Petri dish teeming with bacteria right before serving it to your party guests.

For this reason, many health experts recommend not blowing out candles and using an alternative method to extinguish the flames before eating the cake. Safety should be the priority over tradition.

Modern Practices

These days, traditional wax candles on birthday cakes have largely been replaced by alternatives due to health and safety concerns. Candles made of wrapped wax paper or thin wood sticks are popular options that minimize the mess of melted wax. Battery-powered electronic candles are also common, providing flickering light without an open flame. These modern practices allow the birthday wish tradition to continue more safely, especially for children’s parties.

Decorative paper or wooden candles come in all colors and shapes while avoiding the fire hazard of having dozens of burning wax tapers on a cake. They add festive decoration without the risk of hot wax dripping onto the frosting. Their disposable and inexpensive nature also makes cleanup easy. Just throw away the used paper or wood candles after the cake cutting.

LED-powered electronic candles create a party atmosphere with glowing lights that simulate flickering flames. They can be reused repeatedly, providing environmental benefits. Most electronic candles conveniently include small button batteries, so no charging is required. Party hosts appreciate not having to supervise dozens of burning candles while guests sing and wait their turn to blow them out. Electronic candles allow the tradition to continue in a more controlled, safer manner.

Conclusion

In summary, there are several key reasons people often use their fingers instead of blowing to put out birthday candles:

It’s more hygienic, especially in the age of COVID-19, since blowing spreads germs while using your fingers minimizes the spread of bacteria and viruses (Source). Fingers give more precise control over extinguishing the flames than blowing, allowing you to put out candles individually. Blowing hot wax can also splatter it around, while fingers avoid that mess. Some may find blowing candles undignified or ineffective if the flames are stubborn, making fingers a simpler approach. Finally, the tradition of making a wish and blowing out candles in one breath is lost when extinguishing with fingers, but fingers can allow more people to partake in candle-extinguishing (like the birthday person using fingers while others blow). In conclusion, using fingers over blowing allows for more hygienic, controlled, and dignified candle-extinguishing.