Vasilopita is a New Year’s Day cake in Greece, which contains a hidden coin or trinket, which gives good luck to the lucky diner who finds it. On New Year’s Day Greek families cut the vasilopita to bless their house and bring good luck for the New Year.  Ef̱tychisméno to néo étos! –Happy New Year!

Vasilopita (Greek New Year’s Bread/Cake) Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon orange zest (optional)
• 5 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons water or freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground mahleb or nutmeg (use nutmeg if you can’t find Mahleb)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 1 coin (gold coin is best)

Instructions to Prepare Vasilopita:

Preheat the oven to 325 Degrees Fahrenheit.

Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature. Add the butter and granulated sugar to a large bowl and beat on medium speed using an electric mixer until well combined. Add the orange zest (if using) and beat on low speed until mixed in.

Separate 3 of the eggs and add the yokes one at a time, beating on medium speed into the butter as you do. Add the two whole eggs one at a time and beat those into the mixture. Add the vanilla and water and beat until well combined. Set aside the 3 egg whites.

Sift the flour, optional mahleb, and baking powder together into a large bowl. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, beating on low speed until well combined.

Add the 3 egg whites to a medium bowl and whip vigorously using a whisk until they’re foamy. Fold the egg whites into the batter using a rubber spatula.

Spray a 10 x 4 tube pan with cooking spray and pour the batter into the pan. Add the coin to the batter and distribute batter evenly into the pan using a rubber spatula. Sprinkle the almonds and sesame seeds onto the top of the batter.

Place the pan in the center of the oven and bake for approximately 70 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

**Please Note:  Recommended cook times for GreekBoston.com Greek recipes vary depending on elevation, environmental conditions, the cookware being used, and the nature of the oven or stove. Although we have given approximations, these don’t always take into account your unique environment.

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Here’s more information about the why coins are added to a Vasilopita:

About Vasilopita

Vasilopita is a traditional sweet bread served once a year at New Year’s. It is a tradition that started in Greece but is now celebrated throughout the world. As Greeks over to other locations, they brought their tradition with them. New Year’s wouldn’t be the same without it! The recipe contains plenty of sweet and flavorful ingredients like sugar, orange zest, and sometimes even orange juice. However, recipes could vary depending on the family and the area of Greece where it originated.

Tradition of Vasilopita

Essentially, vasilopita is a cake that honors Saint Basil the Great, the saint for whom the cake gets its name. They story of Saint Basil is well known amongst Greeks, and they admire his devotion to helping the poor. He is said to have sold all of his possessions in order to help those less fortunate than him. This is especially notable in his case because he was born into an extremely rich family. He sold all of his jewels and other markers of wealth in order to help people. It is also said that his devotion to helping the poor is where the tradition of gift-giving originated. His feast day is on January 1st of each year, so this cake is naturally served as part of the festivities.

Why Vasilopita Has a Coin

Simply put, Vasilopita has a coin baked inside of it to remind us of the life of Saint Basil. The coin is a gift, and it is reminiscent of how Saint Basil gave away all of his possessions in order to help the poor. The coin symbolizes everything that Saint Basil stands for. It reminds us to always help those less fortunate than us.

In fact, this cake is not only served at New Year’s parties – it is also used as a fundraiser. Greek churches in the United States, in particular, offer this cake is a fundraiser to raise money for an orphanage. Helping poor orphans is something that Saint Basil did while he walked the earth and the tradition continues.

As you can see, there is a rich tradition behind vasilopita, why it has a coin, and why it is served in the first place. You can bake in any coin that you want, but consider using either a specially created Vasilopita coin, or you can use anything you have on hand. If you want to make your own during New Year’s this year, consider following our recipe. 

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However, in the Greek Orthodox Church, the New Year is a bit different. If you notice, in the church services that take place this time of year, the focus is on Saint Basil. In fact, the Vasilopita cake that is such a beloved tradition is actually made in honor of this saint, not on the New Year itself.

The reason for this is that the Ecclesiastic New Year actually takes place at a different time of the year. Here’s more information about this:

When is the Ecclesiastic New Year?

The Ecclesiastic New Year, or the actual start of the church year, actually takes place on September 1st of each year. There is some debate as to where this tradition came from, but many believe that it has origins in the Roman Empire, since this is when their citizen’s taxes were due. There is also some thought that the New Year occurs at this time because it is around the time when the harvest occurs, and typically, the harvest was looked at as the completion of a year. No matter what the origin is, the Orthodox Church has decided that their New Year is actually on September 1st, and not January 1st, which is the official completion of the actual calendar year.

Is There a Church Service During the Ecclesiastic New Year?

No matter which day of the week it falls, there is usually a church service on this day. It is usually a Divine Liturgy service, but there are special hymns that take place. Here’s a look at the hymns that are sung or chanted during this service:

Apolytikion of Beginning of the Indiction

Second Tone

Creator of the universe, setting times and seasons by Your sole authority, bless the cycle of the year of Your grace, O Lord, guarding our rulers and Your nation in peace, at the intercession of the Theotokos, and save us.

Kontakion of Beginning of the Indiction

Fourth Tone

You who created all things in Your infinite wisdom, and set the times by Your own authority, grant Your Christian people victories. Blessing our comings and goings throughout this year, guide our works according to Your divine will.

As you can see, the Ecclesiastic New Year actually takes place on September 1st. As a result, all that takes place in the church year starts with this service. It is a nice service to attend if you get the chance!

Source:

GoArch.Org – Ecclesiastic New Year

The Religion section on GreekBoston.com was written by Greeks to help people understand some of the traditions of the Orthodox Christian religion, which is a religion practiced by people in countries such as Greece, Russia, United States, and other nations throughout the world. This article is not a substitute for information found in the Holy Bible or by our church fathers, priests, and other clergy members.

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That’s why many people in Greece spend their time making sure that their year starts off right. They engage in certain rituals and activities that are designed to bring luck. Hanging onions on the door in the household is one of these activities. Here’s a look at where this ritual came from and why it’s so important:

Onions are a Symbol of Rebirth

Since the days of the ancient Greeks, the onion has been representative of growth and rebirth. The reason for this is simple – onions are viewed as highly fertile because the bulbs seem to want to sprout, even if they are being left alone. When an onion is left too long without being used, it seems to want to put down roots and grow once again. According to Greeks, this is the ultimate symbol of fertility and this is why the onion is always hung on a door in the household – to help the people in the household grow and experience a rebirth of their own in the coming year.

Type of Onion that is Used

The species of onion historically used, scientific name Urginea maritima but known to the peoples of the time as a squill, grew in wild abundance on the isle of Crete. Though not widely appreciated due to its noxious nature, the plant was believed to have mystical powers of regeneration because of its ability to regrow. For pagans, these magical powers were a gift from the god Pan, patron of nature and the wild; offering the squill bulbs to him were a means of asking for his favor. Christianity began this practice with the same reasoning, and now today you might see foil-wrapped onions perched over door mantles, warding off bad spirits and inviting a year of plenty.

Hanging An Onion at Home

For Greeks, it is so important to be sure to hang an onion at home! Usually, the family attends the New Year’s Day church service. Once the service is done, they find an onion to bring home. At that point, they find a place inside the house to hang an onion. It is very important to wait until after the service is over because this is part of the ritual!

Onions were chosen for New Year’s because they are a symbol of good health, fertility, and longevity. This is one of the many New Year’s rituals that people do in order to make sure the new year is filled with many blessings. New Year’s is thought to be a time to bring luck, and the Greek people believe that these rituals help.

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Like many places throughout the world, fireworks are also a big part of the celebrations. Once the New Year comes about, people gather to enjoy fireworks displays. In some areas, people who can afford fireworks or who know how to make them set them off in their personal property. In other places, the town or city sets them off.  Here’s more information about the Greek fireworks on New Year’s:

New Year’s Celebrations in Greece

Each year, people in Greece gather in some of the major areas. In other words, there is a lively nightlife scene and people gather to have a good time. Besides exchanging gifts and eating a wonderful family meal, many Greeks love to explore the night life on this magical holiday. Night clubs are jam packed all around Greece, and pubs are full of happy men and women welcoming the new year with a nice cold beer. Cities such as Athens also host a fireworks display and those who enjoy New Year’s Eve in these places are in for a treat!

Engage in a Bloodless War

It’s not uncommon to see a “bloodless war” raging on many Greek streets. Many students are equipped with plastic “weapons” and foam spray, and they don’t hesitate to clobber their foes until they get an unconditional surrender. As you could imagine, traffic moves so slow on these nights. With all the revelers and youngsters running around the streets, its amazing people get anywhere by car on this day. Some youths also have small fireworks that they light off as part of this war. This war is fairly harmless and just adds to the festive feeling of the night.

Watching Fireworks Displays

Local Greek municipalities work very hard to put on great New Year’s fireworks displays every year. Municipalities also decorate monuments throughout their cities with festive displays to get everyone in the holiday spirit. People from all over gather in many city centers to watch the amazing fireworks displays at night. A few of the cities that put on some of the best fireworks programs include Athens, Thebes, and Corinth.

Rouketopolemos

Another fun event that takes place in Greece both during New Year’s and Easter Sunday is called rouketopolemos. This word means “rocket war” and it all began on the island of Chios in the Aegean Sea. Many people design their own home-made rockets just for this event. The objective of this game is to get your rocket to hit the church bell first. People come to the island from all over the world in order to witness it.

Fireworks are as much a part of New Year’s in Greece as they are in the rest of the world!

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Enjoying the New Year’s Feast

As mentioned above, Greek families and friends get together and sit down to enjoy a delicious meal filled with all their favorite treats and celebration foods. In some cases, Greek homes can get fairly crowded as family and friends join together in order to celebrate the coming of the New Year. However, no matter how many people there are sitting around the table, there is somehow always an extra, empty place for one other person. Who is the missing guest?

The Extra Place Belongs to Agios Vasilios

Actually, no one is missing. Guests who are not familiar with the legend of Saint Basil may inadvertently try to take that extra place at the table only to be jocosely told to sit somewhere else. It so happens that January 1st is Saint Basil’s Day, and thus it is considered good fortune among Greek families to invite him to the feast on the eve of his special day; however, there is another and more important reason behind this tradition.

Like Santa Claus, Saint Basil is in charge of bringing gifts to children during Christmas. Similar to the tradition of leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus as he makes his down the chimney, Greek parents tell their children that the extra place at the table is for Saint Basil, who must be running late due to all the toys and cool presents he must deliver.

Legend of Agios Vasilios or Saint Basil the Great

It so happens that Agios Vasilios, also known as Saint Basil the Great or Basil of Caesarea, who was the Bishop of Greece in the Second Century, was fortunate enough to be born into a wealthy family. Legend tells us that Saint Basil’s Christian upbringing prompted him to distribute his January 1st birthday presents to poor children. Although Saint Basil is a more prominent figure in the Eastern Orthodox Church, he is also celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church in the Mediterranean.

So why set a place for this particular saint? Overall, the gesture is meant to welcome him and his benevolence into their homes. Not only that, but it is also looked at as a way to thank him for all he has done for the poor and unfortunate. In Greece, there’s no better way to thank someone than to offer them a meal!

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This is the perfect time to bring friends and families together around tables to enjoy traditional Greek foods and those dishes that are usually reserved for special occasions.

Here’s a look at the top dishes that can be served to ring in the New Year in Greece:

Vasilopita – New Year’s Cake

Vasilopita is the most anticipated New Year food in Greece. Vasilopita is New Year’s cake or bread. A small coin or medallion is usually inserted into the cake during the baking process. It is believed that the person who is going to find the coin in his/her piece of the cake will enjoy extra fortune in the New Year. Cutting of this cake is a tradition that has been held for hundreds of years.

Family members and friends gather around the table as pieces of the cake are distributed to everyone who is there. The head of the family, such as the father, is the one who cuts the cake. The first piece of the cake is dedicated to Christ. The second one is for the household. The rest of the pieces are for everyone present. This cake is served for desert. Everyone is served their piece before they are permitted to look and see if they found the coin.

 Manestra – Tomato and Orzo Soup

This simple tomato soup is a favorite on New Year’s Day and is served in many homes. It is typically made from fresh tomatoes, pasta, onions, olive oil, sea salt, and garlic. Although the ingredients are simple, the soup is rich with flavor and makes for a perfect addition at the New Year’s feast.

Lahanosalata – Cabbage Salad

Lahanosalata is Greek cabbage salad. Greeks enjoy preparing fresh foods from the garden. The Lahanosalata is traditional Greek salad loved by many. This salad is always present in many tables in Greece on the New Year’s Eve. Lemon juice and olive dressing is used to create an exceptional taste.

Lahanodolmades – Stuffed Cabbage

Since cabbage is so prevalent in Greece during this time of year, it isn’t uncommon to find multiple cabbage-based dishes on the table during the New Year’s feast. Stuffed cabbage is one of those recipes that you are likely to find. Our version uses rice and meat and is finished with an avgolemono sauce.

Moshari Kokkinisto – Beef Stew with Wine

Moshari Kokkinisto, literally translated as reddened beef stew, is another favorite dish at New Year’s. This stew is different than the version of the stew that is served throughout the year. It is a special stew that is prepared in Greek homes to stimulate people taste buds on New Year’s celebrations. It is a highly anticipated dish made from browned beef, tomato paste, and other ingredients.

Greek Style Roasted Pork Loin

Like Christmas, it is common for pork dishes to make an appearance at the New Year’s table. In Greece, it is the tradition to slaughter a pig during that time of year, so it tends to make an appearance during multiple feasts. Roasted pork loin is one of the most common ways to prepare this dish, but there are other options, such as souvlaki or even roasting the whole pig.

Greek Pasta Dishes

It is also customary to serve some sort of pasta dish at New Year’s. Typically, pastitsio, which is made from meat and pasta, is usually the dish of choice. However, makaronia ograten is also popular. It is essentially a cheesier, meatless version of pastitsio and offers a nice addition to the table, especially if serving a heavier meat dish such as moshari kokkinisto. You really can’t go wrong no matter what Greek pasta dish you choose!

Meze – Appetizer Dishes

Another common item you will find at a Greek New Year’s dish are meze, or Greek appetizer dishes. This is a festive holiday and Greek homes are filled to the brim with people stopping by at all hours to enjoy the festivities. Whether your party guests stay all night or just for a short time, you will need to feed them. Appetizer dishes such as stuffed grape leaves and spanakopita are perfect because you can leave them out for people to enjoy throughout the night.

Although menus many change depending on the family, the foods listed here are often found on the New Year’s table. No matter what is served, however, Vasilopita is always a part of the feast!

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The Pomegranate on the Front Door

On New Year’s Eve, it is common for Greek families and close friends to gather together to spend time with each other. Each household hangs a pomegranate over the front door during this time of the year. Often, the pomegranate will be placed above or to the side of the front door at Christmas, and it will hang there until it is used on New Year’s Eve. Some families may also get their pomegranate blessed at their local Greek Orthodox Church before hanging it.

Reentering the Home at Midnight

As the time nears midnight, the family members in the household will turn off all the lights and make their way outside of their home. One person will be chosen as especially lucky, and they will be the first to reenter the household. This person will enter first with their right foot. Traditionally, children are chosen for the owner of stepping into the home at midnight. This person. referred to as the First Footer, is tasked with the special moment of being the first one to step into the home. It has to be done right, or else the ritual will not bring the family luck for the New Year!

The Smashing of the Pomegranate

After the First Footer enters, someone else is chosen who has a fresh and clean spirit. This is the person who takes the fruit in their right hand and smashes it against the door. Naturally, many of the pomegranate seeds will be revealed and fall out of the pomegranate. The more seeds that are scattered at the foot of the front door of the home, the more luck that that household will have for the year. If very few seeds are scattered, the luck won’t be as much as it would be if a lot of seeds came out. First footers often practice their technique before New Year’s in order to make sure they bring the family as much luck as possible.

The Mossy Stones

Before the New Year, it is also the tradition to put mossy stones near the front door. Before the other household members reenter the house after the first two, they step on these mossy stones that have been collected from nearby streams and ponds, and this is also considered to be a positive omen for the New Year. It is the tradition for the First Footer to stop on the mossy stones after smashing the pomegranates.

Pomegranates are looked at as a fruit that has the potential to bring luck. If the First Footer does his or her job correctly, the household will experience plenty of good luck throughout the year!

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Greeks Play Cards for Luck

As mentioned above, Greeks traditionally view the New Year with as a fortunate and successful time. If this were true, wouldn’t you then want to try your luck with games of chance? This is why people all over the country gather to play games that have a clear winner or where there are cash prizes.

Games with cards and dice both give people the opportunity to win something from nothing. Families and friends gather to play as many different games as possible. People will wait for midnight on New Year’s Eve while making friendly bets on card games. Theses bets are often not very big. Nobody wants to put a friend or a family member in a bad mood.

Games Take Place Throughout Greece

One of the things that characterize these card-playing sessions is that they typically last all night. They start in the early evening and usually last through midnight. Although they are often played at home, marathon card-playing sessions could also take place in clubs and coffee shops throughout the country. Although the goal is to try your luck at the game and hope that you win, people don’t usually bet a lot of money. For the most part, these games are played in the spirit of friendly competition.

Greeks Play the Lottery Too

It’s true that many Greeks will play friendly card games at home. However, since the New Year is heavily associated with good luck, many people will enthusiastically decide to play the State Lottery. This means that people have the chance to lose a little and win a little at home, but it also allows a few lucky Greeks to win big from only investing in a couple of lottery tickets. Spending only a few dollars on a lottery ticket on New Year’s Eve might give someone a lifetime of riches!

Like many New Year’s traditions in Greece, playing card games and other games of chance, such as dice games and even the state lottery, is looked at as something that can bring luck. Not only that, but since New Year’s is considered to be a lucky time of year, the belief is that this could increase their chances of winning!

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All About the Vasilopita Tradition

At some point during the first day of January, mostly commonly within the first minute of the year, a family will cut the vasilopita with two slices, making a cross, in order to bring luck and blessings to the home. The trinket is inserted into the dough prior to baking it. The cake is then divvied up so that every family member and guest receives a slice, with the recipients lining up from oldest to youngest.

No one is allowed to look at their piece until everyone is given their piece. Then, once the server or the head of the household gives his or her okay, everyone checks to see if they found the coin. The type of coin contained within the cake varies depending on what’s available. Some cakes have gold coins, others have smaller pieces of change. The type of coin doesn’t matter as much as the fact that the coin is in the cake.

The cake is not only served in Greek households, but also in organizations. For instance, churches often distribute pieces of vasilopita to parishioners who are active in the church for various reasons, such as the choir director. Vasilopita is often used as a fundraiser, where people pay for a piece of cake in order to benefit charity.

History of Vasilopita

The history of vasilopita can be traced back to the ancient festivals of Kronia and Saturnalia and is connected to a legend of Saint Basil. It is said that he implored the citizens of Cesarea, the place where he was from,  to raise money in order to stop a siege. Each citizen was to give whatever they had in the form of coins or jewelry. When the ransom was handed to the siege, those who organized the siege were so shamed by the collective generosity that the siege was cancelled. When Saint Basil attempted to return the valuables to every Caesarean only to realize there was no way to distinguish how to distribute the funds back to the people. To solve this problem, he baked the coins and jewelry into bread and then distributed it all back to the people in that way. 

In honor of Saint Basil, or Agios Vasilios, people bake this bread every year. The tradition has evolved from the original story and now whoever finds the coin is said to have good luck for the rest of the year. However, the bread itself does serve as a reminder for all that Agios Vasilios did for people of Greece.

Want to make your own Vasilopita? Go here for our Vasilopita recipe!

Source:

Wikipedia – Vasilopita

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Playing Cards

According to the Greek mythology, New Year is one of the most auspicious times ever, and it is customary to participate in customs and beliefs that bring prosperity and good luck in the following year. One of the most popular customs here is to play cards. Several games are arranged in local clubs, delis, pubs and bars. These sessions are also organized in many homes throughout the country. The State lottery too is played with added enthusiasm as it is likely to raise millions of extra dollars on the New Year’s Day. People wait throughout the year to participate in these lively card playing sessions.

Kalo Podariko – First Footing

Kalo Podariko is a common Greek tradition which is celebrated when New Year just sets in. It is widely believed that the first individual, who sets his foot inside a home during the New Year, decides the type of luck that household will be likely to experience in the coming days. It is encouraged to choose such a person for the first footing who is innocent, kind and has a loving heart. Children are often chosen as the first footers as their innocent and loving hearts are said to bring good luck. Right after the first person sets his foot, the rest of the family members follow. Putting your right foot forward is considered to be lucky.

Stepping on Mossy Stones

Stepping on mossy stones is another widely followed custom that is said to make the coming year prosperous and happy. Due to this reason, most of the Greek people collect the mossy stones from the nearby water bodies like the rivers, ponds and lakes while placing them in the threshold of their homes right before the New Year. Stepping on this mossy stone is said to bring a lot of good luck for the following year.

Feasting with an Extra Place

In Greece people eat a lavish New Year’s feast that involves the whole family – plus one extra place. Why is there an empty place at the table? Because families leave a place for Saint Basil, or Agios Vasilios, who has a legacy of helping the poor. Greeks believe that this will also bring them luck. On a side note, Agios Vasilios is also the Greek equivalent of Santa Clause. However, instead of him coming with gifts at Christmas, he actually comes on New Year’s Eve.

In Greece, people believe that these customs will bring them luck. Try them and look forward to a happy and prosperous New Year!

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On New Year’s Eve, many Greeks stay up all night and enjoy the common festivities. They play cards, eat a nice meal with their families, and visit tavernas, bars, or their local coffee shops. Once midnight strikes, fireworks are also a common part of the festivities. The next day, though, it’s time to exchange gifts! Here’s more information on what the kali hera tradition is and how it relates to New Year’s:

New Year’s Day is When the Greeks Exchange Gifts

There are several traditions surrounding New Year’s Day and gift giving in Greece, and Kali Hera is one of them. This is the day when Agios Vasilios, Greece’s version of Santa Claus, comes in the night, bearing gifts for the children. This is also when family members and friends tend to exchange gifts. Greeks tend to associate giving and receiving gifts with abundance and prosperity. They also tend to believe that if you receive gifts on New Year’s you’re more likely to have a prosperous year. People usually give meaningful gifts that aren’t too expensive in order to show their generosity and also wish the recipient future prosperity.

What the Tradition of Kali Hera Is

Kali Hera is the special custom where children receive gifts of money at the New Year. These gifts are usually given to children from their close family members, such as their parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. In some cases, this may be the only time of the year when children receive money as a gift. There was a time in Greece when toys weren’t commonly found. This is when the tradition of giving money first developed. Today, however, there are more choices available and toy shops can be found throughout Greece. Even if someone were to give toys as part of the Kali Hera gift, money is still added. People also include gifts of pastries or sweets to accompany the money and the rest of the gift, if applicable.

On New Year’s Day, children in Greece anticipate kali hera, which is the tradition of giving children money as a gift for the New Year. This is also the time when the rest of the family exchanges their presents, and the family may have even received a visit from Agios Vasilios, who came bearing even more gifts! This feeling of generosity and the abundance that accompanies giving gifts is said to promote prosperity and luck into the New Year.

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Greek Vocabulary for New Year’s

When it comes to celebrating the New Year in Greece, there are certainly plenty of traditions to enjoy. These are all the vocabulary words you’ll need in order to enjoy the festivities, starting with New Year’s Day:

• New Year’s Eve – παραμονή Πρωτοχρονιάς –
• New Year’s Day – Πρωτοχρονιά – protohronia 
• New Year’s Holiday – γιορτή της Πρωτοχρονιάς – yorti tis protohronias

How to Say Happy New Year in Greek

• Happy New Year! Καλή χρονιά! Kali hronia!
• Happy New Year! (another way to say it) Καλή Πρωτοχρονιά! Kali protohronia!

Vocabulary Words for Your Greek New Year’s Traditions

• pomegranate – ρόδι – rothi (Note that it is traditional to eat pomegranates this time of year. There is also a Greek New Year’s tradition of smashing the pomegranate).
• Smash the pomegranate! σπάω το ρόδι – spao to rothi!
• Greek New Year’s Cake – βασιλόπιτα – vasilopita (Note that there are many traditions surrounding this cake. For more information and a recipe, click here.)
• I found the coin! Βρήκα το φλουρί! Erika to flouri! (To use if you end up being the one to find the coin in your piece of vasilopita.)
• gold coin – φλουρί – flouri (Traditionally, it is a gold coin that is hidden in the vasilopita cake).
• New Year’s party – πρωτοχρονιάτικο ρεβεγιόν – protohroniatiko revision

Other New Year’s Vocabulary Words

• midnight – μεσάνυχτα – mesanikta 
• year – έτος – etos
• one calendar year – ένα ημερολογιακό έτος – enos imerologiako etos
• It is almost midnight. Είναι σχεδόν τα μεσάνυχτα. Eenai skethon to mesanikta.
• fireworks – πυροτέχνημα – purotehnima
• celebration – εορτασμός – eortasmos
• toast – πρόποση – proposi
• countdown – αντίστροφη μέτρηση – antisrofi metrisi
• confetti – κομφετί – koufeti
• champagne – σαμπάνια – sampania
• party – πάρτι – parti

New Year’s is a celebratory time all over Greece and there are many traditions associated with it. Visit this section of Greek Boston for more information!

The Learn Greek section on GreekBoston.com was written by Greeks to help people understand the conversational basics of the Greek language. This article is not a substitute for a professional Greek learning program, but a helpful resource for people wanting to learn simple communication in Greek.

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Life of Agios Vasilios

Basil eventually left Athens after six years and after traveling to Palestine, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Syria to study monasticism and ascetics, he returned to Caesarea where he taught law and rhetoric. His life changedn when he encountered Eustathius of Sebaste, a renowned bishop and ascetic. After that experience, he abandoned his legal and teaching career and turned to God. Although he started off being mentored by Eustathius of Sebaste, he eventually took a different path.

With his brother, Saint Basil founded a monastery near Annesi, which was on his family’s estate. The new members included his widowed mother, his sister Macrina, several women, and later his old friend Gregory who joined Basil and devoted himself (as did all the other members) to a life of prayer and charitable work. At the monastery, Basil went on to write extensively on monastic communal life, and these writings served as a guide for developing monastic traditions all across the Eastern Church.

Agios Vasilios Begins to Help the Poor

In 362 A.D. Saint Basil was ordained a deacon by Bishop Meletius of Antioch, and not long after he was summoned by Eusebius to Caesarea to be ordained as presbyter of the church there. During his time in the Caesarean church, Basil fiercely combated the Arian heresy, which was threatening to divide Cappadocia’s Christians. After extensive discussions and arguments in fraternal rhetorical meetings, a more public debate contest was arranged, where accomplished theologians and rhetors presented and supported their case.

Eventually Basil was chosen to become the Bishop of Caesarea. During this time, he really began to devote his life to those who were poor and suffering. Basil was somewhat imperious and hot-blooded, but he was also kind and generous to the poor. He gave away his family inheritance and organized a soup kitchen during a severe famine.

Agios Vasilios and New Year’s

Today, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Basil on New Year’s Day. This is because it is said that he breathed his last in this life on January 1. However, his legacy lives on to this day. All over the world and especially in Greece, Orthodox Christians honor his memory by taking up charities and giving donations. Agios Vasilios, or Saint Basil, is also Greece’s equivalent of Santa Claus. When families eat their New Year’s meal, they always set an extra place for him, as well. This is done not only to honor and remember him, but also as a way to encourage him to visit their homes so he could bring his yearly gifts.

Source:

Wikipedia – Saint Basil 

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