Blowing candles (COVID)

[JamMakingWannaBe]

I've just started planning for DC's birthday party very early next year.

Due to having no party last year we are going big and hiring a hall / entertainer etc.
We're also splashing out on a professional cake.

Is it acceptable for the birthday boy/girl to blow out candles on the cake that their friends are then going to eat?

I know we all did it back in the day so I guess I'm more looking for input on what is now (COVID) society norms / expectations.

I'm happy to order a separate cupcake for DC to blow germs over if that's now the done thing.

Two parties recently - one there was candle blowing out, one not

Up to you. I prefer the cupcake idea. Or I've seen someone cover the cake with clingfilm then stick the candle in but that gets a bit risky if the candle burns a while and also looks funny.

I would say no. Mind you, I'm always reluctant to eat cake that has been blown on by small children. The blowing usually includes a fair quantity of saliva.

Dd, who is 21, had a party recently. We used one of those candle snuffer thingies on a 2 and a 1 candle.

Sadly, I think this is a tradition that has gone now. I'd not be comfortable with it anyhow, though the children won't mind. I wouldn't want to promote a super-spreader event.

Surely having a group of children together at a party is just as risky from a Covid perspective as blowing out the candles?

We just wave a card over the candles to put them out, we always have.

(Not suggesting you don't have a party btw. - just trying to understand why you're worried about blowing out candles but not worried about children breathing all over each other at the party)

I recently had the same dilemma; ended up using a “magic candle” from a supermarket, like a small indoor firework. Looked great when we turned down the lights, and I don’t think the DC missed the candles!

Thanks @Dubbin. I was thinking that could be an alternative option. Good to hear your feedback.

I’m allowing candle blowing but then my dc are still at an age where licking each other is common. We stand no chance against covid.

I agree that if a family was worried from a covid perspective they probably wouldn’t be attending the party in the first instance.

It'll be a whole class party of 7 and 8 year olds. I'm imagining they'll have mixed up their own classroom germ soup already.

I think a sparkler candle is the way to go.

The party is not on DC's actual birthday so we'll have one to "blow out" at home on the day.

Cling film over the cake and then put the candles in. Works very well.