Millicent Spencer
The first Florinian Vasilopita Festival is coming to Whittlesea with dancing, music, and lots of food.
The festival is presented by The Cultural Centre of Florinians, one of the oldest Greek cultural groups still running in Victoria, bringing together Greek, Bulgarian, Anatolian, Romani, and Klezmer communities.
The Cultural Centre of Florinians dance instructor and cultural coordinator George Kiriakidis said while this is the first year the centre will host a festival, the tradition of Vasilopita is one that goes back centuries.
“The tradition which involves making a cake (also known as Vasilopita) usually occurs on January 1 and marks the start of the Greek religious calendar,” he said.
“All the families on the day will make Vasilopita and they will put a gold coin in the cake and bake it.
“It gets shared amongst family members, and the person who gets the gold coin gets good luck for the year.”
Mr Kiriakidis said the tradition of baking Vasilopita, also known as St Basil Bread, will be used as a symbolic gesture to commence the centre’s activities for 2023.
“We’re using this event as a way of formally commencing the year,” he said.
“We’re going to have Vasilopita and a prize for the lucky recipient of the gold coin.
“It’ll be lots of fun with plenty of food, a cooking demonstration, and live dancing.”
Mr Kiriakidis said all members of the community are welcome to come and experience the “sharing of traditions”.
“What makes Melbourne so unique is its multicultural culture,” he said.
“The club was established in 1956 [and] the cultures, traditions, music, and dances are continuing through a second and third generation of migrants.
“Over time we’ve become a group to maintain culture and share it with others.”
The Florinian Vasilopita Festival is on Saturday, February 5 between noon-5pm at 119 Dalton Road, Thomastown. Entry is free. For more information, call: 0413 381 915
