Cake is arguably one of the most delicious edible things ever made by humans, and its numerous varieties never cease to amaze any cake fan. For that reason alone, it is obvious that cake is more than deserving of its own holiday, which is on 26 November – National Cake Day.
The most famous quote about cake ever are the words of a great French princess, Marie Antoinette, who said, “Let them eat cake!” This was said during the reign of her husband – Louis XVI – when the peasants were too poor to buy bread during one of the famines occurring in France. The ignorance and arrogance of that disdainful remark did not win either of them any respect or sympathy from their people, who beheaded both of them during the French Revolution.
Cake dates back to ancient times – the first cakes were thought to have been made in Ancient Greece and Egypt. They were eaten at the end of a meal with nuts and honey, and were rather flat and heavy. This type of cake has evolved and is known today as baklava – a traditional Greek dessert.
Later on, the ancient Romans created their own version of this sweet treat which was rather creamy and rich. However – as is the case in many cultures around the world – this cake was often reserved for the gods. It was offered to them at their temples as a sign of respect, love and reverence.
The Oxford English Dictionary traces the English word ‘cake’ back to the 13th century. It became necessary during the Great Depression to provide easy, relatively cheap food to millions of Americans living in poverty and the boxed cake mix was born. This idea turned out to be pure gold – millions of housewives have taken advantage of this method to make their lives easier.
The best way to celebrate National Cake Day is by inviting your friends and family over and eating cake. You can buy a number of different types of cakes to celebrate, or you can make your own. If you do not want to celebrate at home – or don’t feel like baking – meet your friends at your favourite coffee shop and enjoy some quality time, coffee and cake.
Take some photos of this occasion and post on social media using #NationalCakeDay.
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