A Birthday Cake in Cambridge

On ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s birthday, 23 May 1912, which was also the anniversary of the Báb’s Declaration, over 100 guests were at the Breed home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to welcome Him. Alice Breed, the mother-in-law of ‘Alí-Kulí Khán, “had baked Him a birthday cake with sixty-eight candles, and to symbolize universality and the love many bore Him . . . had decorated it with tiny flags of the United States, Persia and England. Her first cake fell and she had to bake another.”

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Marzieh Gail continues: “Significantly, He did not stay for the festivities. He forgave this time, but had forbidden the celebration of His birthday.” Six years before, He had told pilgrims that besides Naw-Rúz the Holy Days were only for the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, and now in His address He spoke only of the Báb’s Declaration, “saying not a word about Himself.” Afterward, Alice persuaded Him to step into the dining room, see the festive table and the cake, and take a little refreshment. He sat in a large brocaded chair, but soon left.

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Mírzá Maḥmúd’s diary adds that, at Mrs Breed’s request, the Master lit the first candle on the cake, and then each of the friends in turn lit one.

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