The National Zoo celebrated the birthday of three of its four resident pandas on Saturday, including Bei Bei’s very first fête. Modifying a Chinese baby tradition, the zoo placed three banners in the panda yard that were representative of his future: peaches, or longevity; bamboo, or good health and habitat; and a red knot, or friendship and luck. As it happened, though, mom Mei Xiang made the choice for him, picking the red knot. Bei Bei (whose actual birthday is today) also snoozed through cake time, so Mei Xiang dove into his tiered tower, too.

Bao Bao, an old hand at this by age three (her birthday is on Aug. 23), certainly seemed to enjoy her cake, made with diluted fruit juice and extra slices of sweet potato, as did Tian Tian, both cubs’ father. He turns 19 on Aug. 27. Anyone looking to take up panda-inspired cake baking can take a cue from this National Zoo chef.