The Greek tradition of the Vasilopita and the story behind it One of the most beautiful and inspirational traditions of the Greek Orthodox Church is the annual family celebration of the Vasilopita. This original event, which happened in Cappadocia of Caesarea in the last half of the fourth century, is very much alive in our homes each year. The Greek word Vasilopita is directly translated as “Pita of Basil”. Pita is a sweet bread or cake. When the Vasilopita is prepared, a coin is baked into the ingredients. Sweet flavour symbolizes the sweetness and joy of life everlasting. It also symbolizes the hope that the New Year will be filled with, the sweetness of life, liberty, health, and happiness for all who participate in the Vasilopita Observance. When the observance begins, usually on New Years Day, the Vasilopita is traditionally cut by the eldest member of the family and the person, who finds in his piece of Pita the coin, is considered blessed and lucky for the New Year. Portions of the Vasilopita are distributed as followed: The first portion is cut in remembrance of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The second is for the Holy Mother of our Lord, The Virgin Mary. The third is for St. Basil the Great, the other portions are cut for the members of the family beginning with the eldest. Portions may also be cut for the house, the traveler, the visitor and the poor. This age old tradition commenced in the fourth century, when Saint Basil the Great, who was a bishop, wanted to distribute money to the poor in his Diocese. He wanted to preserve their dignity, so as not to look like charity, he commissioned some women to bake sweetened bread, in which he arranged to place gold coins. Thus the families in cutting the bread to nourish themselves, were pleasantly surprised to find the coins.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 23:26:11 +0000
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