Vasilopita is a cake cut in Greek households on New Year’s Eve to bring good luck for the year ahead. This sponge cake is made with flour, almonds, yeast, sugar and milk. A coin or a trinket is usually hidden within the cake and the person who gets the slice with it is believed to be blessed with good luck for the upcoming year.
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.
The Vasilopita is a beautiful tradition, and a custom which should not be neglected by Greek Orthodox Christians. It is such a wonderful way to begin each New Year.
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