We arrived back from a visit with my family on Wednesday. Due to UK Coronavirus protocols, we are required quarantine at home until we get the results back from a test taken on the second day after our return. D. received his results back late on New Year’s Eve, but I’m still waiting for mine. I haven’t gone out in days, yet we still are managing a bit of a Greek cultural adventure . . .
We’re very fortunate that we’ve met and befriended a lovely Greek family that lives on the floor below us. It instantly made D. feel more at home to know there were fellow Greeks nearby. They have two small children, almost 2 and 5, who have brought us much delight.
In Greece it is a tradition for children to go out to sing carols before Christmas and again on New Year’s Eve. The children carry triangles, like the ones I recall from elementary school music class, to accompany the singing. When they come to your door, they will ask “shall I sing” and then you answer “yes”. When they are done singing, it is customary to give them money.
What a lovely surprise it was for us on New Year’s Eve that our friend called to say that her daughter would like to come to our door to sing the New Year’s carols. Complete with a triangle, the intrepid five-year-old came up and delighted us with a carol. Understandably, she got a bit lost at times and it was fun to see D. singing along to help her.
On New Year’s Day, I made a special cake called Vasilopita – St. Basil’s Cake for the first time. It’s a Greek New Year tradition to bake or buy a Vasilopita in which is tucked a coin meant to confer good luck upon the person that finds it. It seems there are as many different types of Vasilopitas as there are Greeks, but the coin is a must. For mine, I used zest from a whole orange along with two aromatic spices – mastic (a resin from a certain pine tree) and mahlep (an extract from the pit of a certain cherry). The aroma in the apartment was wonderful. D. was in charge of cutting the cake designating a piece for each of our parents, my sister, the home. We also cut pieces in honor of our Greek neighbors below with the father getting the lucky coin. It seemed right that their kindness to us was rewarded with a blessing of good fortune.
While I’m still eagerly hoping for my test results so I can go out for a stroll, sometimes being stuck inside can still be beautiful.
Wishing you all a very Happy and Healthy 2022!
Oh, the memories of sitting at the table waiting for my parents to cut our New Year’s bread with a coin in it. Whoever got the coin was to be blessed with good luck for the year. I didn’t get the coin that often but the anticipation of each piece being cut was exciting. Little different than your cake but you are right, the coin is a must! How wonderful to have the family you befriended close to share times like this! Children make the holidays even more special.
It was wonderful to see you and catch up with our lives. Wishing you and D good health and much happiness for the new year. I look forward to reading more about Scotland and it’s customs.
Hi Aunt Priscilla, that’s really neat to hear that you celebrated this tradition as a child. I bet your parents made this a lot of fun.
Suzanne,
Thank you for that taste of Greek traditions. I am trying to imagine our friend Frances singing and playing the triangle. I hope she was able (as a child) to pull off the wonderful innocence.
May 2022 be a year of health and happiness!
Hi Marlene, What a fun thought – trying to imagine a little Frances at the front door 🙂 Wishing you a wonderful 2022!