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Vasilopita and the Lucky Coin: A Greek Custom to Welcome the New Year

The story of the Greek Orthodox custom of the Vasilopita, or the New Year's cake with a lucky coin inside, began in Asia Minor, and more specifically in the city of Caesarea in Cappadocia, more than 1600 years ago. This...

Vasilopita Recipe: Greek New Year’s Cake

The story of the Greek Orthodox custom of the vasilopita with the lucky coin inside begins in Asia Minor, and more specifically in the city of Caesarea in Cappadocia, more than 1,600 years ago. Here's a recipe for Vasilopita...

Nine Greek Vasilopita Options for the New Year

It's always a great idea to welcome the New Year with delicious homemade vasilopita that can come in for sweet and savory recipes. All of them are equally delicious and belong to the Greek festive season. Bake them yourself...

Bakers Create Giant Five-Ton Vasilopita Cake in Peristeri, Attica

The Association of Bakers of Athens, together with citizens from Attica's large municipality of Peristeri, prepared, baked and distributed to the public a massive ''Vasilopita,'' the traditional cake Greek families enjoy on New Year's Eve, on Tuesday. Peristeri mayor Andreas...

Record Breaking 2,500 kilo Vasilopita Made in Greece (video)

Greek bakers gave Greece their well wishes for 2018 by making and offering a record-breaking 2,500 kilo Vasilopita (Greek New Year’s cake) to locals for free. The 70-metre-long and 3-metre-wide Vasilopita was cut in 15,000 slices in Athens’ suburban municipality...

The Most Peculiar Greek Vasilopita Recipe Contains Meat!

The New Year's cake -- commonly known as vasilopita -- recipe varies depending on the place of origin. It is not always sweet which may seem peculiar to certain Greeks, especially those who live in the capital or abroad. In...

Unique 'Vasilopita' Recipes from Across Greece

On New Year's Day or at midnight on New Year's Eve people across Greece cut the vasilopita, a traditional bread or cake containing a hidden coin which gives good luck to the receiver. Vasilopita is associated with Saint Basil's...

Vasilopita: The Roots of Greek New Year's Cake and How to Make it

Vasilopita is a traditional Greek dessert prepared across Greece for New Year's Day with the roots of the tradition stemming from the legend of Saint Basil. According to legend, St. Basil called on the citizens of Caesarea to raise a...

Origins of Greek Vasilopita

Vasilopita, as Greek tradition dictates, is cut by families on New Year’s Day to bless the house and bring good luck for the new year. This is usually done at midnight of New Year's Eve in Greece. A coin...

'Vasilopita' One of the Most Inspirational Traditions of Greek Orthodox Church

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...

e-Vasilopita cutting on February 21st

All Greeks from Greece, Cyprus and abroad and Philhellenes, i.e. friends of Greece worldwide are invited to join for another year, the cutting of a virtual Vasilopita.  A Vasilopita is a Greek traditional New Year’s cake.  Every year it is...

Saint Basil: A Towering Figure in Greek History

Saint Basil is remembered by the Greek people as the figure who bore gifts and helped children and the poor at Christmastime.

Christmas and New Year’s Carols From All Over Greece

Greece is steeped in fascinating holiday traditions, with its Christmas carols, or kalanda, being some of the most heartwarming seasonal customs. Every year, Greeks anxiously await Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and January 5, the day before the Epiphany, when...

The Ancient Greek Roots of Christmas Traditions

Christmas is one of the most important and perhaps the most treasured celebration of Christianity and is a day filled with joy and love. Surprisingly, many elements of Christmas celebrations have their roots in ancient Greece. Every country celebrates with...

Five Traditional Greek Desserts to Sweeten Up Your Christmas

During the Christmas season, Greece is filled with the delicious aroma of sugary-sweet traditional Greek desserts, floating out from houses and bakeries as people prepare for the holiday season. Featuring traditional Greek flavors like nuts, citrus, spices like cinnamon and...