Holiday meals- Birthdays

Birthdays are an interesting case.  In a lot of cultures, including the U.S., I feel that they are similar in the sense that whoever is being celebrated gets to choose.  Often in the U.S. people choose to go out to their favorite restaurant.  It could be a slightly more expensive one that they do not frequent or it could be a place that feels homey and that is frequented due to having the best version of some food that they like.  In D&A the latter can be seen in Great Britain when they are celebrating at the local pub with friends and family.  It is a homey vibe and more of a celebration because they may be known there by the staff or be "regulars."  It is also probably more convenient to gather loves ones and friends at a place that is local and known in the community.  Some people may choose to stay in as well, perhaps having a favorite home cooked meal or a meal that is not prepared often due to expense, time, preparation, etc.  It is an occasion to make something different or just something that is a favorite.  It is interesting that although the type of food we are talking about having for birthdays largely differs, the conversation around it does not seem to change all that much from culture to culture.  It is pleasing whoever is being celebrated.
One time when I was younger I was at a friend's for a birthday party.  It was a little gathering of just family and friends and then we had a nice dinner (barbecue ribs, her favorite) and then after a short break her mom called us all back in the room for cake. The candles were lit and we sang and she blew them out.  Then, after barely touching her small piece of cake we were back in the other room away from her mom and I asked her why she did not eat much of her cake and she said "yeah, I am not really a big cake person."  It seems that cake is seldom a favorite dessert compared to other things such as ice cream, pies, brownies, etc. but for some reason it is a symbol for a birthday.  No matter what the dinner meal is, cake always has to follow.  In D&A you can see they have a cake in the pub, probably not something they typically make, but they make an exception because it's a birthday and that's what you do.  It's often assumed that there needs to be cake there rather than asking the birthday person what they would like for dessert instead... maybe it's just because they are the easiest things to stick candles in!