Christmas birthday cake celebrates Jesus with a beautiful tradition that children enjoy from an early age. What better way to teach children about the birth of Jesus on Christmas than celebrating his birthday with cake, ice cream, and singing, “Happy Birthday, Jesus”?
“For unto us a child is born, unto us, a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace,” Isaiah 9:6 KJV.
Christmas is packed with family traditions. The Christmas birthday cake tradition is one that everyone will enjoy since it involves a delicious, sweet treat. How simple or elaborate you and your family decide to be with the Christmas birthday cake tradition is up to you.
Christmas Birthday Cake Makes Holiday Dessert Decisions a Piece of Cake
What’s Cooking America? reports that some historians believe the birthday cake tradition started in Germany during the Middle Ages to celebrate Jesus’ birth. The Germans made sweetened bread dough in the shape of baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes.
As time progressed, the shape of the cake changed and the tradition spread throughout Europe for children’s birthdays, too. In England, small treasures like coins or marbles were baked into the cake.
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The tradition of celebrating Christmas with a birthday cake for Jesus celebrates the holiday and teaches your children about Jesus’ love from a very young age. “Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David… He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them,” Luke 4-7, NIV.
When Christmas birthday cake becomes part of your holiday traditions, the decision of what to make for dessert is down to what kind of cake rather than what type of dessert. Jesus’ birthday cake can come from a box mix or the freezer section of the grocery store. Or, you can make your family’s favorite homemade cake like traditional vanilla, chocolate, or swirl. Of course, a Christmas birthday cake can be even more elaborate like a Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake or Peppermint Cheesecake. That’s the beauty of a family tradition – you make it your own.
Some make sure the flavor of the Christmas birthday cake is symbolic. The 3-Layer Jesus Birthday Cake has a chocolate layer that represents that everyone has sinned, a red layer that represents Jesus’ bloodshed to forgive our sins, and a green layer that represents our new life when we accept Jesus.
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The symbolism of the 3-Layer Jesus Birthday cake continues with its shape and decorations. The round cake symbolizes that God’s love is never-ending. The white frosting represents Jesus’ purity and that his love washes away our sins. A gold star reminds your family of the star of Bethlehem that guided the wise men to Jesus. And, candles remind us that Jesus is the light of the world and for us to let our light shine bright as we do good works.
In other Christmas birthday cake traditions, the cake is typically white to signify the purity of Jesus. The frosting is red to signify the blood of Jesus shed for the world, while a single candle represents not only the star of Bethlehem but the fact that Christ brought light to the world.
Get the Kids Involved in the Christmas Birthday Cake Tradition
Not only can your children help pick out the birthday cake flavor and make the cake. They can decorate it, too. Little ones can take the pieces of their Fisher Price Nativity set and place them on top of the cake. There’s nothing more precious than their tiny plastic Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus set off-center with loving care onto the cake. You can share the story of Jesus’ birth with your little ones while baking, decorating, or right before you eat the cake.
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As your children get older, they can use frosting to simply write, “Happy Birthday, Jesus” on the cake. Let your children take ownership of the cake, you will be surprised as they come up with ways to make the Christmas birthday cake look like baby Jesus or learn to use fondant to create the nativity figures. Your Christmas birthday cake can be decorated as simply as spelling “Jesus” out in red and green M&Ms.
Joy, Food, and Sunshine provide a step-by-step tutorial to make a beautiful Nativity Cake. With just a bit of delicious practice, and some wax paper, you simply melt chocolate and trace the Nativity scene with chocolate. You and your children will enjoy practicing a few times to create the perfect nativity scene.
Another way to get not only your children, but all of your guests involved in the Christmas birthday cake for Jesus tradition is to make cupcakes rather than a cake. You can give each Christmas guest a cupcake with a candle. You can even attach a note card with scripture as a way to share Jesus’ love.
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord,” Luke 2:11. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins,” Matthew 1:21.
Of course, a Christmas birthday cake celebration for Jesus is not complete without singing, “Happy Birthday.” Making and decorating the cake together with your children and singing to Jesus, your family, and holiday guests fill this holiday tradition with love. Remember: “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” Merry Christmas.
Sources: Bible Study Tools, @JoyFoodSunshine, and Happy Home Fairy.
Photo Credits: Pexels, Unsplash, and Pixabay.
WANT TO READ MORE?
Check out Daily Mom’s article, “Christmas Food Competition: Why You Should Try This Tasty Tradition,” for more ideas about holiday traditions.
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