How have birthday cakes become a symbol of the American culture?
A staple at most birthday celebrations in the United States, the birthday cake is a confectionary creation that in some ways has become a symbol of our larger American culture.Social Gatherings Around FoodThough not unique to American culture, social gatherings around food is an event in which many Americans enjoy participating, and a birthday is an opportunity to do that, with the cake being the final tasty course.DietAmericans have a reputation for eating poorly and eating poorly in large quantities. The birthday cake is a good example of this–a high-calorie, fatty treat.NarcissismSome argue that Americans are self-centered. A birthday party, often organized with the encouragement of the birthday boy or girl and with a cake usually featuring that person’s name, is an act of complete focus on one person.ExcessAmericans are a high-consumer society and one could argue that a lavishly decorated cake, following a typically heavy meal, is symbolic of our excessive culture.Happy Birthday t
