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The Basilopita
The tradition of The Bailopita dates to St Basil, 350 AD
In Athens Free Walking Tours we share local Greek customs and culture. Do you know about the Basilopita?
There is a custom, symbolising the new year, the one of the Basilopita. One the 1 of January, a sweet bread in which a coin is hidden, is randomly broken and each person picks a piece. The one who picked the piece with the coin is said to have luck for the year. This sweet bread, is named Vasilopita , after St Basil. He was the Bishop in the late 350 AD in Caesarea. He dedicated his life toward defending the poor.
In ancient Greece this festival was similar to the KRONIA, a fertility festival in honour of Kronos, the father of Zeus. All the workers and slaves would share a meal.
The Roman's modified this festival and called it the SATURNALIA
The time of year when these festivals occur are different, but the concept is similar, the coming together, sharing, irrelevant of class, rank or money. The wish of St Basil is thus symbolically fulfilled every time we share a Basilopita and it's hardly unpleasant when you receive a coin and luck for a year! Just watch your teeth and don't bite to hard till the coin is found!
This year my mom got the coin, in today's world the chef wraps the Euro in aluminium foil before placing it in the bread.
I hope you get one too!
To join our Athens Walks Tours see the itinerary
of See Athens Walk https://www.seeathenswalk.com
Address:
They are located on: You need to book to ensure a spot on the tour:
Leoforos Vasilisis Amalias 50 Athens 10558
Telephone:
+306947344484
Map:
https://g.page/seeathenswalk?share
Pick us, tour with a local, that makes Athens your home! Athens Free Walking Tours Athens offer you an opportunity to love Greece , its old and new, because you are with someone who lives the life, feels the sun and eats Greek yogurt!! Ha ha! We will make this Athens city tour special for you, walk with us! With these Free Walking Tours of Athens, you take the experience home! Athens Walks can be special in only 3 hours we can show you our world.
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By George StratosThe tradition of The Bailopita dates to St Basil, 350 AD
In Athens Free Walking Tours we share local Greek customs and culture. Do you know about the Basilopita?
There is a custom, symbolising the new year, the one of the Basilopita. One the 1 of January, a sweet bread in which a coin is hidden, is randomly broken and each person picks a piece. The one who picked the piece with the coin is said to have luck for the year. This sweet bread, is named Vasilopita , after St Basil. He was the Bishop in the late 350 AD in Caesarea. He dedicated his life toward defending the poor.
In ancient Greece this festival was similar to the KRONIA, a fertility festival in honour of Kronos, the father of Zeus. All the workers and slaves would share a meal.
The Roman's modified this festival and called it the SATURNALIA
The time of year when these festivals occur are different, but the concept is similar, the coming together, sharing, irrelevant of class, rank or money. The wish of St Basil is thus symbolically fulfilled every time we share a Basilopita and it's hardly unpleasant when you receive a coin and luck for a year! Just watch your teeth and don't bite to hard till the coin is found!
This year my mom got the coin, in today's world the chef wraps the Euro in aluminium foil before placing it in the bread.
I hope you get one too!
To join our Athens Walks Tours see the itinerary
of See Athens Walk https://www.seeathenswalk.com
Address:
They are located on: You need to book to ensure a spot on the tour:
Leoforos Vasilisis Amalias 50 Athens 10558
Telephone:
+306947344484
Map:
https://g.page/seeathenswalk?share
Pick us, tour with a local, that makes Athens your home! Athens Free Walking Tours Athens offer you an opportunity to love Greece , its old and new, because you are with someone who lives the life, feels the sun and eats Greek yogurt!! Ha ha! We will make this Athens city tour special for you, walk with us! With these Free Walking Tours of Athens, you take the experience home! Athens Walks can be special in only 3 hours we can show you our world.