<P> The cake, pastry, or dessert is served to a person on their birthday . In contemporary Western cultures, the one individual being celebrated will blow out a number of candles on the cake . </P> <P> There is no standard for birthday cakes, though the "Happy Birthday" song is often sung while the cake is served in English - speaking countries, or an equivalent birthday song in the appropriate language of the country . The phrase "Happy Birthday" did not appear on birthday cakes until the song "Happy Birthday to You" was popularized in the early 1900s . Variations of birthday songs and rituals exist in different parts of the world . In Uruguay, party guests touch the person's shoulder or head following the singing of "Happy Birthday to You". In Ecuador, the person whose birthday it is will take a large bite of the birthday cake before it is served . In Peru, guests use to sing "Happy Birthday to You" first in English with the name of the individual whose birthday it is, then in Spanish, later they sing any other song in Spanish regarding cake or date, finally blowing candles and serving the cake . </P> <P> The birthday cake is often decorated with small candles, secured with special holders or simply pressed down into the cake . The cake can also be served with other sweets such as ice cream . In the UK, North America and Australia, the number of candles is equal to the age of the individual whose birthday it is, sometimes with one extra for luck . Traditionally, the person whose birthday it is makes a wish, which is thought to come true if all the candles are extinguished in a single breath . </P> <P> To represent a sharing of joy and a sense of togetherness, the cake is shared amongst all the guests attending the party . </P>

What do the candles on a birthday cake represent
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