Vasilopita?

[byzgirl]

Has anyone heard of the celebration of Vasilopita? It is a tradition, of the Greek Orthodox, that is tied to Saint Basil and his acts of charity (apparently, to avoid hurting anyone’s pride, he gave money to the poor, inside of cakes).

My son dances, with Greek children from an Orthodox church, that is local. He is supposed to join them, in a performance, for the celebration, coming up on January 4th.

I just wondered if any of the Eastern Catholic churches practice this custom? I think it’s a nice one.

 

[prodromos]

The story behind the Vasilopita is as follows:
A heavy tax was imposed on St Basil’s diocese such that they would be unable to pay, however the citizens all rallied to St Basil’s aid donating gold and jewelery such that the amount that had been demanded was actually raised. When the tax collector learned that St Basil had actually managed to raise the money, he had a change of heart and decided to cancel the tax.
St Basil now had to return the gold and jewelery to the people but had no way of knowing what belonged to who, so he gave instructions for cakes to be prepared and placed each of the items in the small cakes prior to them being baked. The cakes were they distributed to the people whereupon God’s miracle took place and each person found exactly what he had given St Basil inside the cakes they received.

John

 

[Khoria_Anna]

Takes all day to make it, but it’s worth it. Yummy and a fun custom to watch daddy cover his head with a cloth and break the bread over his head with the appropriate prayers and blessings. Then the fun to see who gets the treasure hidden inside! The mother daughter baking of the bread can be loads of fun the day before. Nice domestic church celebration to start the New Year off on a good foot.

BTW, I’m Melkite and we celebrate the Vasilopeta ISt. Basil’s bread

 

[Pani_Rose]

Greek Orthodoxy - Vasilopita Recipe

http://www.saint-anthonys.org/images/cross.gif ** Marmarini - The Emperor’s Vasilopita Recipe
from the Island of Marmara (Preikoneisos)
**
The traditional Vasilopita of St. Basil’s bread owes its origin to the island of Marmara. The legend goes, that the Emperor Justinian was so pleased with the marble from the island that he used to build St. Sophia, that he built a marble palace there and gave the island to his daughter as her “preika” or dowry. For years the island was called “the island of the dowry” or “Preikoneisos.” Also, to honor the special relationship of the island to the Emperor, their recipe for Vasilopita was taken back to Constantinople and continued in the royal court. Two forms were customarily made, one the traditional and the other of filo dough, made in alternating layers of cinnamon, sugar, and butter.

The traditional recipe is as follows:
For 3 pounds of Vasilopita

• 12 cups of sifted bread flour
• 4 sticks of unsweetened butter
• 6 eggs
• 3 cups of whole milk
• 3 packages of quick rise dry yeast
• 3 cups of sugar
• 1-1/2 tsps. of finely crushed mastika
• 3 tsps. of salt
• 3 tsps. of cinnamon
• orange peel or brandy flavoring (touch)
  
  Directions:
  1. Place the yeast and 1/4 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup warm water in a bowl.
  2. Place the mastika, cinnamon, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and flavorings in a bowl and mix.
  3. Whip the 6 eggs together until they are golden yellow (15 minutes)
  4. Melt the butter and add the milk, constantly turning at low heat.
  5. Add the mastika mixture to the eggs and mix well.
  6. Add the yeast mixture to the eggs and mix well.
  7. Gradually, sir in the milk/butter mixture.
  8. Gradually, mix in the sugar.
  9. Add 2 cups of flour and continue stirring well.
  10. Gradually, add four 1 cup at a time until dough is not sticky.
  11. Knead the dough with the additional flour for about 15-20 minutes.
  12. Pre-heat the oven at 325.
  13. Put dough in a ball and cover in butter.
  14. Sprinkle flour in a corss on the dough and have each cook (or child) make a cross on the dough’s center.
  15. Place dough in a covered, greased pan and allow to rise about 2-1/2 hours.
  16. After dough has doubled in size, punch in the middle, divide into greased pans and allow to rise about 45 minutes. (Place coin in at this stage.)
  17. Cover pita in an egg white gloss and sprinkle sesame seeds on the top.
  18. Decorate cross in center with almonds and/or cinnamon prints.
  19. Bake at 325 for about 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Cover with foil if getting too brown and test with fork to see if it sticks.
  20. After cooling, turn the pita 3 times in a clockwise turn and make the sign of the cross 3 times on the surface. Cut the pita and the first piece going to St. Basil and the Saints, next the home, business and family in seniority order!
      CONT

 

[Pani_Rose]

Greek Orthodoxy - Vasilopita Observance

http://www.saint-anthonys.org/images/cross.gif One of the most beautiful and inspiring traditions and customs of the Orthodox Church is the observance of the Vasilopita. It is this annual observance, together with many other traditions that brings together our families and increases our awareness of the needs of the poor.

The world Vasilopita is a compound Greek word which means the sweet bread of St. Basil the Great, the one that is cut New Year’s eve or New Year’s day. Usually it is cut by the senior member of the family.


Portions of the Agiovasilopita or Vasilopita are distributed as follows: The first portion is cut in remembrance of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The second is for the Holy Mother of our Lord, Virgin Mary. The third is for St. Basil the Great, the other portions are cut for the members of the family including the Church, house, for the traveler, the visitor and the poor.


In one of those portions is a coin and whoever receives that coin, is believed to have a special blessing for the New Year. The traditional Vasilopita with the gathering of the family members and with the holiday atmosphere is one of the most beautiful traditions of our families.


 One of the most beautiful and inspiring traditions and customs of the Orthodox Church is the observance of the Vasilopita. It is this annual observance, together with many other traditions that brings together our families and increases our awareness of the needs of the poor.

The world Vasilopita is a compound Greek word which means the sweet bread of St. Basil the Great, the one that is cut New Year’s eve or New Year’s day. Usually it is cut by the senior member of the family.

Portions of the Agiovasilopita or Vasilopita are distributed as follows: The first portion is cut in remembrance of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The second is for the Holy Mother of our Lord, Virgin Mary. The third is for St. Basil the Great, the other portions are cut for the members of the family including the Church, house, for the traveler, the visitor and the poor.


In one of those portions is a coin and whoever receives that coin, is believed to have a special blessing for the New Year. The traditional Vasilopita with the gathering of the family members and with the holiday atmosphere is one of the most beautiful traditions of our families.

http://www.saint-anthonys.org/orthodox/vasilopita_recipe.htm

 

[byzgirl]

Thank you for the responses (and actual recipe).

It should be a nice event. My family and parents are Byzantine (Eastern) Catholics. Like I mentioned in my initial post, my son dances with their parish’s children. He’s the only ‘outsider’ that doesn’t belong to their church/parish, isn’t Orthodox, and isn’t Greek by nationality.

I only had one encounter with an older generation woman, who was nasty to me about his participation in their ‘dancing’ (they have a summertime 3-day festival that is just wonderful). She didn’t like that he wasn’t a parishioner (and made it clear that she felt he didn’t belong). It really hurt my feelings, but I’ve let it go…as I understand that there are people like that everywhere. I’m not sure what she knew and what, specifically, she was basing her objections on (whether it was because he wasn’t Greek or wasn’t Orthodox), but she was very mean. Despite that, it’s been a nice experience, and there are a number parishioners who seem warm and friendly towards us (or atleast smile and seem hospitable). Levi’s instructor is exeptional. She’s really great with children, and she’s been really kind toward him and inclusive. She has even requested that he “one, maybe two” of the dances! She’s a sweetheart.

One of my hobbies, for many years now, is in Eastern European/Balkan folk dancing. My dad’s heritage is Croatian, which is how I first began to get involved. And my favorite music and dance is Greek. So that’s how it began, and why I wanted Levi to dance with them. I tried to find jr. tammie groups in the area, but they are all too far from us, and they require a LOT of traveling. So I liked the fact that this was so close by, and that they only really have two performances a year (one for the Vasilopita and the 3-day summer festival). And Levi LOVES it.

So that’s the background. This will be the first time that we (my family and parents) actually go to one of their church’s celebrations. I am a little apprehensive, only because of that one incident. But I’m sure that it will be nice.

Just this past year, for our church’s All Saints Day observance, Levi dressed as Saint Basil…so we have a warm spot in our hearts for him. I think it sounds like a very beautiful custom. I am happy to take part.

And the New Year’s bread/cake sounds really tasty! Perhaps Levi will get the coin!

 

[Patchunky]

One of my hobbies, for many years now, is in Eastern European/Balkan folk dancing. My dad’s heritage is Croatian, which is how I first began to get involved. And my favorite music and dance is Greek. So that’s how it began, and why I wanted Levi to dance with them. I tried to find jr. tammie groups in the area, but they are all too far from us, and they require a LOT of traveling. So I liked the fact that this was so close by, and that they only really have two performances a year (one for the Vasilopita and the 3-day summer festival). And Levi LOVES it/quote]

If you’re in the Pittsburgh area and you son like to dance, you should check out SLAVJANE Carpatho-Rusyn Dance Group for kids at Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic church in McKees Rocks or any of the Croatian Junior Tamburitzan groups which teach the kids how dance and sing and play instruments as well. One of the better groups with lots of kids and excellent instructors is the Junior Tamburtizans of Duquense. There is also the Slovak dance group which has both kids and adults.

Contact me off list and I’ll get you contact information if you’re interested.

 

[byzgirl]

byzgirl;4571729:

One of my hobbies, for many years now, is in Eastern European/Balkan folk dancing. My dad’s heritage is Croatian, which is how I first began to get involved. And my favorite music and dance is Greek. So that’s how it began, and why I wanted Levi to dance with them. I tried to find jr. tammie groups in the area, but they are all too far from us, and they require a LOT of traveling. So I liked the fact that this was so close by, and that they only really have two performances a year (one for the Vasilopita and the 3-day summer festival). And Levi LOVES it/quote]

If you’re in the Pittsburgh area and you son like to dance, you should check out SLAVJANE Carpatho-Rusyn Dance Group for kids at Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic church in McKees Rocks or any of the Croatian Junior Tamburitzan groups which teach the kids how dance and sing and play instruments as well. One of the better groups with lots of kids and excellent instructors is the Junior Tamburtizans of Duquense. There is also the Slovak dance group which has both kids and adults.

Contact me off list and I’ll get you contact information if you’re interested.

Thank you for your reply! Yes, I know Slavjane very well, and I like their connection to the Byzantine churches/Archeparchy in Pittsburgh. I’ve seen them perform many times, and I know of the Duquesne group as well. The only problem is distance, for me. I don’t like to drive too far from home. It takes a committment that I’m not sure I’m prepared to take on. You know how it is…I have my son involved in cub scouts and soccer, and my daughter will be next up. I don’t know if I have the energy to take on more (or the funds). But I LOVE those groups. I just wish that one of them were closer, for practices. That’s why I decided to let him perform with the Greek children at the Orthodox church. It is super close to home, and it doesn’t involve too much. Besides, like I said, I’m a** big fan of Greek music and their style of dancing, in particular **(even more so than Croatian…and that’s coming from someone with some of that heritage). I tend to like music and dance that is more along the lines of Greek and Middle Eastern, and some of the Serbian music (which has those sounds/influences). I love dances from Albania, Turkey, etc. Very cool. Bulgarian is pretty fun too. I’ve tried a lot (even Irish ceili dancing).

By the way, which is the Slovak group which has kids and adults? Where do they practice from?

That’s one of my great loves, though…folk dancing. I love cultural things in general, and the customs of different peoples. It’s just great (which is why I’m going to enjoy the Vasilipita celebration)…you can’t beat the combination of something of religious significance, along with good food, music, and dancing!

You certainly get to know a bunch of very wonderful people, and have some good, clean fun.

 

[Patchunky]

Patchunky;4572122:

By the way, which is the Slovak group which has kids and adults? Where do they practice from?

Listen to Rudy & Sue Ondrejco on Sunday at 3pm on WPIT 730 AM or online at WWW.WPITAM.COM.

They usually give info about their dance group and where it meets. You can also get their phone number and give them a call.