The Vasilopita is a nice Greek Tradition . Baking the “vasilopita”, a special cake for the New Year, will make sure to start things off right! When cutting the cake into slices on New Year’s Day, Greeks will name each slice as they cut it, after everyone in the family and friends. Usually, also a coin is hidden in the bottom of the cake. Whoever is lucky enough to get the coin in their slice is considered especially blessed in the coming year! So maybe a nice Greek tradition to also try it with your family and friends back home?
The tradition of baking and cutting a special “pita” (which can mean a loaf of bread, a cake, or even a pie) is also followed by organizations, schools, clubs and companies during the month of January. The sweetness of the bread symbolizes the hope that the New Year will be filled with the sweetness of life, liberty, health and happiness for all that participate in cutting of the Vasilopita.
Usually, it is cut by the senior member of the family or company. Portions of the Vasilopita are distributed as follows: The first portion is (usually in religious families) cut in remembrance of Jesus Christ, the other portions are cut for the members of the family including “the house”, and “the poor”. The recent years, more and more variations exist, according to the interests and hopes of those cutting the pie!
Of course, also the Omilo-team cuts the Vasilopita every year in the Athens school.
The pita for 2023 was cut, and the lucky coin went to….Omilo!
Whenever a course takes place during January, the Omilo students are very welcome to join this nice tradition and taste this special sweet bread or cake.
Take a look at the video when Dimitris opens the champagne and gets ready to cut the Vasilopita together with the Omilo students.
If you want to see how popular the « vasilopita » is in Greece, then take a look at this video of a bakery in Kifissia (North Athens). They are for sure expecting many customers buying Vasilopita 🙂
We wish you all a nice and lucky year. Καλή Χρόνια!
- +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If you would like to learn more about the Christmas and New Year Season in Greece,
Then download our FREE eBook « Celebrate Greek Christmas and New Year, Like A Local »,
including Greek texts, audio, videos and English translations
