The Vasilopita is a Greek New Year's Bread. It is made in honor of a beautiful act of charity by St. Basil to the poor and needy of his flock. In order to insure that the needy would have money for life's necessities, and knowing that the needy were also proud people, St. Basil had the ladies of his church bake sweet bread with coins baked into them. In this way he could give them money without demeaning them at all. It is therefore traditional to bake a coin into the Vasilopita (St. Basil's Bread). The one who receives the coin is considered to be especially blessed for the year.
Our family tradition is to gather on New Years Day, relax with family and have a nice dinner. After dinner the coffee is put on and the cutting of the Dime Cake begins. My mother always made the cake but with her passing JoAnne now makes it. My Uncle has been cutting the cake for as long as I can remember - since I was a little tyke, and still does it today. The first piece is cut for God, the second for the House and then from oldest to youngest. Although only one dime is baked in the cake my uncle keeps a pocket full of dimes handy and inserts them into the pieces of cake for the kids that are present. It is quite a site to see the kids face light up when they see they're piece has the dime! This is one family tradition that I hope to continue.
Click here for one iteration of the Vasilopita recipe
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