On Wednesday, all students took part in the traditional vasilopita cutting ceremony. Vasilopita is a New Year’s Day cake that contains a hidden coin which gives good luck to the receiver. The traditional bread used in Greece is tsoureki. The ritual is associated with Saint Basil’s day on January 1, but in other parts of Europe, it has other origins. In the new year, families cut the vasilopita to bring good luck for the new year. A piece of cake is sliced for each member of the family (or school, in our case) and any visitors present at the time, by order of age from eldest to youngest. Symbolic pieces may also be cut for groups such as the household, the school or the poor.

This year’s lucky winner of the coin from each class & among faculty/staff are: