How is birthday cake "traditional"?

Okay, I managed to make it through my birthday week without any cake and it left me wondering....at what point did birthday cake become a "tradition"? Why would eggs, butter, sugar, and flour be a necessary part of aging another year? Is it just carry over from our desire to eat anything with disgusting amounts of sugar as children? If that's the case then how do you explain the "tradition" of eating until buttons are flying off and whacking Grandma in the forehead at Thanksgiving? I know I'm as guilty as anyone of these tradition imposters (Just TRY to tell me not to make Sweet Potato Pudding for Thanksgiving!), but the more I contemplate them from a logical standpoint, the less sense they make. My birthday was no less wonderful when we had "Strawberry Delight" (a low-point cake alternative my MIL found) instead of a giant high calorie confection. I think, that if I'm to be successful in my "bovine" weight loss journey, then I'm going to have to challenge my preconceptions. Will Christmas be a tragedy if I don't leave Mom's house bursting at the seams? Of Course Not! Will my brother disown me out if I don't have a heaping spoonful or two of his mashed potatos at Thanksgiving? Well........maybe....... :) Actually, he'll probably like me more because there will be more left for him and everyone else!