The Western manner of celebrating birthdays and anniversaries by lighting candles on a cake and then blowing them out while singing Happy Birthday/Anniversary, has been copied by Parsis and others. This is totally against the Zarathushti tenets as it unwittingly insults fire. It is not a gesture of health, longevity or happiness, but signifies death.
Blowing out a lighted (birthday) candle releases foul breath and saliva on the fire, desecrating it. We revere fire as the son of God: "Aathro Ahurahe Mazdaao puthra, rave aatarsh puthra Ahurae Mazdaao.” It is considered a cardinal sin to desecrate fire. There are many instances......