Canton, Connecticut, U.S.A. – As I reflect on the past year, one aspect of my life I want to carry forward into 2026 is my connection to my Greek roots.
One beloved tradition that occurs annually in my house is the cutting of the Vasilopita (Basilopita or Basil’s Bread) on January 1st, which honors Saint Basil.
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The sweet Greek New Year’s bread is made of flour, eggs, butter, sugar, milk, vanilla, orange zest, and has a lucky coin hidden inside.
The sweetness of the bread represents the hope that the New Year will be filled with the sweetness of life for all that observe the cutting of the Vasilopita.
On the first day of every year, my family gathers and the bread is cut and distributed in a specific order.
The family member who cuts the bread begins with, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen” and then cuts the first pieces for Christ, then for the Virgin Mary, Saint Basil and the less fortunate in that order.
Then, pieces are cut for each member of the family from oldest to youngest, and finally, a piece is cut for the house. As the bread is cut, whoever receives the piece that contains the coin, is considered to have good luck heading into the new year.
This tradition is particularly special to me because January 1st is the day of my name day. In the Greek Orthodox faith, name days celebrate the feast day of the saint after whom a person is named.
For me, the patron saint who I was named after is Saint Basil the Great or Agios Vasileios, a revered 4th-century bishop, theologian and founder of Christian monasticism.
I was named after my maternal grandmother, Vasiliki. My Greek name is Vasilia, but I go by Lia for short.
This year, my mom decided to make the bread herself for the first time, finding a recipe that resembled the kind of Vasilopita my grandmother, or yiayia, would make.
This custom reminds me that no matter where life takes me, my heritage is a source of strength, joy, and connection.
Lia Arnold is a Reporter with Youth Journalism International.
