From which European country does the New Year's Day cake Vasilopita originate?
Vasilopita is a New Year's Day cake that originated in Greece. It usually contains a coin, which gives good luck to the person who finds it in their slice. It tends to have a doughy texture, making it a cross between bread and a cake.
Vasilopita translates as 'Basil pie', which references St Basil's Day that is celebrated on 1st January. On the day, families cut the cake to bless their house and bring good luck for the year ahead.
St. Basil was a bishop who wanted to distribute money to the poor. He commissioned women to bake sweetened bread, in which he placed gold coins before distributing them to poor families. This is how the tradition of making Vasilopita began.
More Info:
en.m.wikipedia.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
5 Comments
Ilias Tsiabardas
Now Days in Vasilopita they don't put Gold Coins but any Coin , is Just for Good Luck, the Head of the Family Usually the Man Blesses the Vasilopita making the Cross with the Knife three times in the Name Of the Father the Son and the Holy spirit and wishing Good Luck in good health for the New year ,an Starts Cutting the Vasilopita the first Peace is for Jesus the Second Piece for the House and next for Himself then His wife and Next the first Child and so on
Ilias Tsiabardas
Adø Lunzi, there's plenty of Wine to help Vasilopita Washed down Ado 🍷🤣
John W Shreve
Adø Lunzi, There's always the heinielick maneuver.
Fred Keogh
I got a 10 drachma coin in a slice of Vasilopita, many years ago in the 1990's, in a Greek Restaurant in Cardiff.
Howard Groopman
When she lived in Los Angeles, my wife attended St Basil's Catholic church. But that didn't help me here, I said Russia.