Cakes have symbolic meanings in different cultures. Romans saw cakes as symbols of fertility and offered them to gods. In France, croquembouche is a traditional wedding cake, while buche de noel is a Christmas roll cake shaped like a log. Cakes are categorized as gateaus, which have three layers, or tortes, which have two layers. Each cake layer contains cake base, sugar syrup, and icing or filling. The document provides guidelines for making cakes, such as creaming butter and sugar and properly baking and cooling the cake.