|
|
The Greeks commemorate
this day
Year's Day as the anniversary of St..
Basil's death,
even though his feastday is June 14th. Both
New
Year's Day
(St. Basil's Day) and
New
Year's
Eve (St. Basil's Eve) are marked with special ceremonies honoring
the most important
saint in the Eastern Rite.
St. Basil was one of the four great doctors or theologians of the Eastern
0rthodox
Church. St. Basil is also Greece's most popular
saint and is also honored as the protector of the orphans, widows, and
poverty stricken young girls.
Basil loved children and always
assisted the sick and the homeless. He was the first bishop to establish
orphanages and hospitals and old age homes. He first directed the attention
of the Church to these unfortunate victims of society.
. |
According to tradition, Saint Basil would stick a gold gold coins inside of
bread, throw the bread though the window of these poverty stricken young
girls so that they could have a dowry and could be married. This tradition
has resulted in the baking of vaslopita (Saint Basil's Bread) for this
special day
Vasilopita
is traditionally made with a coin hidden in the dough and is cut according
to a specific ritual. The first piece that is cut is supposedto be sent to
the
church,
the second piece is to be
offered to the poor ,the third piece goes to the oldest member of the
family, and the remaining pieces go to the family's members in order
of age. Whoever receives the piece with the coin is supposed to have good
luck for the following year, although the coin traditionally given to
the poor.
Vasilopita
(St. Basil's Bread)
|
|
|