New Year's Eve & Day

New Year's day is the feast of St. Basil (Vassilis) "the Great" who was an archbishop in the Greek Orthodox church from 370 to his death in 379 and considered one of the three Hierarchs of the church.
It is the Greek tradition to exchange gifts on New Year's day and not on Christmas day. Lucky for us, we do both! On New Year's Eve, Katerina's godparents and our close friends George & Deb spent the evening with us to celebrate Christmas and New Years. Typically we spend Christmas Eve with them but this year it did not work out. On New Year's day, Constantin's sister, Popi and her husband Ed spent the day with us. New Year's day is also Constantin's Mother's Name Day, as she is named after St. Basil (Vassiliki)

It is tradition to bake a special cake (more like bread), Vassilopita with a gold or silver coin hidden inside, and after Happy New Year wishes are exchanged, the cake is cut: one slice for St. Basil, one for each family member, one for each other person there, the pets, and for the poor people of the world. In one of these slices is hidden the coin, which brings blessings to its recipient throughout the year. And I got the coin on New Year's Eve!! The cake was baked by George's aunt in Greece and shipped to us. We cut another one the next day that Popi had sent from the Greek Monastery in upstate NY and Constantin's father got the coin. He was so excited because, in 80 years, he has never gotten the coin.

Happy New Year to All!

More gifts under the tree

Katerina eating her slice of Vassilopita

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