Kali Xronia!

When you live overseas, traditions take on a larger-than-life significance for the sake of maintaining the cultural links to the 'homeland'. So it was for Laurence, who decided that, now that Irini is beginning to recognize the difference between where we live and where we're from, it is important to initiate the formal tradition of the cutting of the vasilopita in Malaysia.

For those whose experience does not include Greek (or similar Balkan) traditions, the vasilopita is a cake made specifically for the new year. It is normally cooked from scratch and in it is a cleverly concealed coin (in this case a 10 Euro cent coin from the Greek mint). Tradition would have it that the cake is divided into pieces with each piece going to a different person (e.g. God, daddy, etc.) or group of people (e.g. the poor, Scan Clan, etc.).

This year's vasilopita came fresh out of the oven as an experimental attempt at traditional baking, based on an internet recipe, though we secretly hope that our friends Stelio and Maria can give us a recipe for next year if they have one. Laurence did the research. Natalia gave the 'okay', did the shopping and preparation and Irini & Amalia helped out by decorating it after Laurence was done writing Kali Xronia (Happy New Year in Greek). That ensured that the entire family was directly involved in the creation of it, as well as the consumption of it (with the addition of the Colombian gang). A short explanation of the tradition to the Colombian members of the family, followed by a series of cuts by Laurence and Irini ended with the coin going to the Daza members of the extended Brownie (i.e. The Colombian) family!

Happy New Year! Feliz Año Nuevo! Kali Xronia!

May 2012 be filled with wonder, love and making the world a better place.