The Philoptochos Society (Friends of the Poor) is sponoring the annual cutting of the vasilopeta in honor of Saint Basil the Great and for the health of the Greek Orthodox Church of Our Saviour Community on Sunday, January 8th. Please join us for this wonderful tradition.

The Vasilopeta can either be a cake or bread. In our household, we make the cake version. This is a passed down recipe and there’s nothing spectacular about this cake. It’s a simple cake with a pound cake like texture. In the Greek household, however, this cake is more about tradition mingled with religious symbolism than a dessert.

This cake is usually made on the last day of the year and served right after the stroke of midnight or during New Year’s Day. The head of the household lightly passes a knife, three times, in a cross formation, without scoring or cutting the cake, while saying a prayer of thanks for all that has been received in the past year and all that will come in the New Year.

The Vasilopeta is then cut into servings. The first three pieces are offered to: St. Basil, Christ (also known as: “The Zityano” - The Beggar) and The Virgin Mary. The order may vary, depending on the background and origin of the family, but they always come first. The following servings are cut for “The House” (the family’s household) and then the immediate family members living in it, beginning with the oldest member and ending with the youngest. Then come the spouses of the children. Some of us also cut a few crumbs for our pets; we really shouldn’t, but we do.

As for the coin, it’s said that the person who finds it will be the lucky one for the rest of the year. This is superstition; though, it does make for a great scavenger hunt, especially when no one has found the coin and someone pops up and says: “Did you forget to stick the coin into the peta?” Or, even better, the most anxious family member will lift up the peta off the platter and look underneath to see if they can spot the coin. Then of course, everyone turns to the remaining cake to search for it. In our family, as with most Greek families, the Vasilopeta isn’t about the cake and coin. It’s about stopping, appreciating, as well as being thankful, for what we have: our health and prosperity. Anything else is secondary. Happy New Year!