What is vasilopita English?
Directly translated, vasilopita means “sweet bread of Basil”. Vasilopita bread is prepared with sweet flavoring to symbolize the joy of life everlasting and also the hope that the New Year will be filled with the sweetness of life.
What is the difference between vasilopita and Tsoureki?
Now, traditionally, Tsoureki is made for Easter. However, Tsoureki and Vasilopita are very similar. The main difference is that Tsoureki is a braided loaf, while Vasilopita is a circular loaf.
How do you eat vasilopita?
All About the Vasilopita Tradition The trinket is inserted into the dough prior to baking it. The cake is then divvied up so that every family member and guest receives a slice, with the recipients lining up from oldest to youngest. No one is allowed to look at their piece until everyone is given their piece.
How do you cut Greek vasilopita?
Cutting the Vasilopita The person who cuts it is usually the head of the household and he/she cuts the sign of the cross three times on the cake. This is said to bring luck and blessings to the home.
Who do you cut vasilopita for?
Vasilopita pronounced vah-see-LO-pee-tah, is the Greek lucky new year’s cake that has a coin hidden in it and is cut at midnight. It is tradition for each family to have their own vasilopita and a piece is cut for each family member. If the coin is in your piece you supposedly have good luck for the rest of the year.
What is the purpose of vasilopita?
Vasilopita (Greek: Βασιλόπιτα, Vasilópita, lit. ‘(St.) Basil-pie’ or ‘Vassilis pie’, see below) is a New Year’s Day bread or cake in Greece and many other areas in eastern Europe and the Balkans which contains a hidden coin or trinket which gives good luck to the receiver, like the Western European King Cake.
Why do Greeks cut a 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 is hidden in the bread by slipping it into the dough before baking.
What item is traditionally hidden in vasilopita?
Vasilopita is a traditional Greek cake that is eaten as a family for Saint Basil’s Day (January 1). It is also called “New Year’s Day Cake”. It is customary to hide a coin or a bean inside the cake before baking. This coin is supposed to bring good luck to the person who finds it.
What is the story of vasilopita?
In popular tradition, vasilopita is associated with a legend of Saint Basil. According to one story, St. Basil called on the citizens of Caesarea to raise a ransom payment to stop the siege of the city. Basil was then tasked with returning the unpaid ransom, but had no way to know which items belonged to which family.
Why do Greeks put coin in vasilopita?
Simply put, Vasilopita has a coin baked inside of it to remind us of the life of Saint Basil. The coin is a gift, and it is reminiscent of how Saint Basil gave away all of his possessions in order to help the poor. The coin symbolizes everything that Saint Basil stands for.
What do Greek people eat on new year’s Day?
Greece. Vasilopita is a type of bread or king cake which is eaten on New Year’s Day (the feast of St. Basil) to bring luck for the upcoming year. Coins or trinkets are baked into the dough; it is considered lucky to find one.
Why do Greeks cut a Vasilopita?
What is vasilopita?
A delicious vasilopita recipe (Greek New Years cake) infused with the aromas of oranges and garnished with a thick and glossy vanilla glaze! Vasilopita is a traditional Greek cake served at midnight on New Year’s Eve to celebrate the life of Saint Basil.
How to glaze a Vasilopita cake?
Using a second plate, i nvert again so the top of the cake is on top. Wrap a coin with aluminium foil and stick it in the cake. Invert the vasilopita on a serving platter with the bottom of the cake facing upwards. Having a completely flat surface will make your glaze go on so much easier and will be nice and flat.
What are the secret ingredients in my vasilopita?
However there are two secret ingredients to my Vasilopita recipe: Oranges and Greek Yoghurt! The flavour of my Greek new Year cake comes from the oranges and you’ll want both orange juice and zest to give it that tangy, citrus flavour that will amaze you.
How long to bake a Vasilopita?
Smooth the top once again. Bake your vasilopita in the middle rack of your oven for approximately 60-70 minutes. You can check that it is done by inserting a clean toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, with only crumbs attached to it (no wet batter), then your vasilopita is ready.