I am always happy when March arrives. It is like the finish line of a race. The jumping off point for spring and the hope that it is just a few weeks away. The robins are back and most of the snow has melted.

The second reason is that it is my birth month. In fact, March is birthday central at our house. My brother and I have March birthdays. They are only nine days apart. It seems like most of our friends also had birthdays during March and April. The challenge was to have a party unlike anyone else.

My brother and I would never agree to have a party together. Even though we had many mutual friends, there had to be two separate parties. We had parties in every fast food restaurant, every skating rink, movie parties, swim parties and video game parties. One year we went to wrestling at the War Memorial. We were big fans of the wrestler Hulk Hogan. We actually shook hands as he passed by. My mom was just as excited as we were.

At least I think she was? Wouldn't every mom love to accompany a gaggle of 9-year-old boys to a wrestling match. Every year there was a different theme. My mom was always up to the challenge, creating fun venues and great decorations.

Food historians are split on who deserves credit for inventing the birthday cake. Some say ancient Greeks made the first cakes with honey and bread. Others say the first true birthday cakes were made in Germany. Sweetened bread dough was shaped in the likeness of the baby Jesus and dressed in swaddling clothes to commemorate his birth. Years later, Germans began using these cakes to celebrate their children's birthdays.

The earliest birthday parties in history were held because it was feared that evil spirits were attracted to people on their birthdays. At first only kings were recognized as important enough to have a birthday celebration. To protect them from harm, friends and family would help celebrate their birthday, bringing them good wishes, thoughts and presents. Hats and noisemakers were used at birthday parties hoping to scare away the evil spirits.

There are a few possible explanations as to why we have candles on birthday cakes. Nobody is completely sure how the tradition started. One possible reason is because the ancient Greeks used to take round cakes, to represent the full moon, to the temple of their goddess of the moon, Artemis. The Greeks are said to have placed candles on the cake to make it look as if it was glowing like the moon.

Birthday candles were later placed on cakes to bring birthday wishes up to God. In ancient times, people prayed over the flames of an open fire. They believed that the smoke carried their thoughts up to the gods.

Today, we believe that if you blow out all your candles in one breath, your wish will come true.

Of course, a loud round of “Happy Birthday to You,” must accompany the candle blowing. At our house, the big debate was whether you sang before or after. The jury is still out on that one.

Fast-forward to today. Festively decorated cakes are mandatory for birthday celebrations for babies to centenarians and even pets.

Birthday cakes can be purchased in every color and design imaginable. Buying a birthday cake is perfectly acceptable, but making one from scratch says just how important the birthday person is to you. Above is a recipe for a basic chocolate cake.

This can be made for any occasion, with a little colored icing and a few candles and “Happy Birthday” it is. Enjoy.

This column has been a collaborative effort between Auburn natives chef Max Hitchcock and his mother, Susan Silverman. They can be reached at Birdscapes@adelphia.net