A Tradition in the Making

Not every recipe begins passed down from generation to generation. Some traditions begin when someone decides to create one, eager to pass it down to their own future generations. For one contributor from Japan, this was exactly the case: a new tradition in the making, ready to be shared with others.

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The contributor grew up in a family that rarely cooked. This inspired them to take on a different approach to food. Instead of preparing longstanding family recipes, they decided to begin their own recipes, with homemade birthday cakes.

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Every year, the contributor decides to bake a birthday cake completely from scratch. The recipient of the cake gets to choose the flavors, so the cake is curated to the individual being celebrated.

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What may appear as a simple baked good has evolved into a meaningful tradition for the contributor, and a way to express gratitude and love for those in their life.

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This practice extends beyond birthday cakes, however. The contributor has begun compiling homemade recipes they have perfected into a cookbook that they hope to pass down to future generations.

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Traditions must start somewhere, and the contributor is creating one themself. Rather than preserve old family recipes, they are compiling and preparing their own. Baking for their loved ones, then recording each ingredient and stepping into a book that generations will continue to use years later.

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For this contributor, food is more than a family dish passed down, but an opportunity to build community and traditions along the way. These homemade cakes represent a legacy in the making, something that others will reflect on as the roots of their own family recipes and traditions.