Happy New Year! In Greek culture, St. Basilios’ Day is celebrated on January 1st. Though his day is primarily a religious observance, it has become associated with the tradition of gift-giving, similar to the Western concept of Santa Claus. In Greek folklore, St. Basil is said to bring gifts to children on New Year’s Eve, rather than Christmas.

The Basilopita, a cake with a coin inside, is cut on New Year’s Day in honor of St. Basilios. The cake, blessed by the head of the household, is cut at midnight and each family member is given a slice in the following order: A slice for the household, then a slice for St. Basilios, asking for blessings and then for all family members and guests, with the one who gets the coin being the lucky recipient of the year