As Great Lent comes to a close, the faithful have observed the colorful tradition which has been passed down through generations; the cherished custom of the blessing of the Paschal food eaten on Easter Sunday, or better known as Pascha! Each of the following traditional foods has a symbolic and spiritual significance. My hope is to share an example of a Traditional Pascha basket, which stems from the Russian tradition, and share what each item symbolizes. Although these particular items in the basket have a long standing tradition, they are in no way required! Each family will put together Pascha basket that is unique and special. It is common that family members will include items that they have been abstaining from during the fast, and items they are most looking forward to breaking the fast with after Pascha! Many parishes will bless the baskets after the Divine Liturgy so be sure to ask your local priest if this something they will do this year!

*Special thanks to Marian Adams of The Green Paintbrush for creating this beautiful Pascha Basket print, which she made for the purposes of this blog post. You can find an 8” x 10” print or set of 6 cards on her Etsy shop.

Putting Together a Traditional Pascha Basket

Pascha Basket

Typically there is one large wicker basket with a handle per family. Some families may choose to have a separate basket for the children with gifts, candy, etc. If you do not have a large basket 🧺 try finding one at your local thrift stores, second hand websites (like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc), HomeGoods, or other home decor stores.

Store Bought Option: If you have a Whole Foods nearby, they sell well made fair trade Bolga Market baskets that would work great for a Pascha Basket!

Paska Bread (Easter Bread)

Paska Bread - is a rich sweet bread made with milk, butter, eggs, and made with yeast. The bread reminds us that Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35). The yeast is a symbol of the New Covenant; the Jews made unleavened bread, and since we are children under the New Covenant, we make leavened bread.

Store Bought Option : Each culture has its own eggy sweet bread. You can find some more traditional versions below. But if you’re needing a simple store bought option, look for some Brioche bread or Hawaiian rolls or even some crescent rolls as a great store bought option to add to your Pascha Basket!

Traditional Sweet Breads:

Paska Bread image by Korena in the Kitchen — Paska Bread image by *Korena in the Kitchen*

Paska - is the Ukrainian or Georgian traditional bread, decorated with a braided cross on top and baked in a round cake pan. You can find step by step instructions on how to make this bread HERE thanks to Korena in the Kitchen Blog.

Kulich Bread image by Natasha’s Kitchen Blog

Kulich - is the traditional Russian bread, often made with dried fruit and decorated with icing and sprinkles. The process of this bread is quite lengthly (totaling 7+ hours) but much of that is passively for the various rises. You can follow a step by step recipe HERE thanks to Natasha’s Kitchen Blog.

Tsoureki - is the traditional Greek braided bread. The braided form of this bread is a display of the Trinity - 3 in 1. This semi-sweet bread is made using eggs, butter and cream. You can follow a step by step recipe HERE thank to Hey Foodie Girl, an Orthodox Food Blogger, which will make a bunch of loaves to share!

Eggs

Eggs - Brightly Colored or dyed red, they symbolize new life and the resurrection. The red egg, which we crack, reminds us of the tomb from which Christ arose. This is because of the miracle of new life which comes from the egg, just as Christ miraculously came forth from the tomb, shattering the bonds of sin. Of course, red for His blood shed for us, and the miracle from St Maria Magdalane when the egg in her hand miraculously turned red as she proclaimed "Christ is Risen" to the non-believing Emperor.

Pysanky

Pysanky is a Ukrainian Easter egg, decorated with traditional Ukrainian folk designs using a wax-resist method. The word pysanky comes from the verb pysaty, "to write" or "to inscribe", as the designs are not painted on, but written (inscribed) with beeswax. You can watch a video on YouTube on how to make these special painted eggs HERE.

Pysanky Egg Decorating Kit by Draw Near Designs (currently 20% off this week only)
Wooden "Pysanky" Eggs for Little Ones by Draw Near Designs (also 20% off this week only)
A Kid's Guide to Decorating Ukranian Easter Eggs book - This book is a thorough, fully illustrated step-by-step guide for beginners of all ages! It’s designed to teach the basic skills needed for decorating pysanky. 48 full color pages, spiral bound. A perfect accompaniment to the Pysanky Egg Kit!
Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco - A story of an old Babushka, known throughout all of Moskva for her beautifully painted Pysanky eggs, is preparing her eggs for the Easter Festival when she takes in an injured goose who breaks all her eggs, but miraculously receives beautifully adorned eggs in return for nurturing the injured goose. This sweet story is available at most local libraries. You can also find it on Amazon.

Store Bought Option: If you are able to find an easter egg dying kit, you can use a crayon to decorate the eggs and dip them in various colors!

Red Dyed Eggs

Dye Red Eggs - In the Greek tradition, Holy Thursday is the day designated to dye red eggs. The red color is symbolic of Christ’s blood, and since Holy Thursday evening’s service (which is done in anticipation of Friday) is the day when Jesus is nailed to the cross, the many choose to dye their eggs on this day. Many churches provide red eggs for the faithful, which are then distributed after the Paschal Liturgy, but if you’d like to try your hand at making them yourself, there are a few ways to do this:

Onion Skin Method - If you’re wanting a natural way to dye eggs, try the onion skin method! You’ll need the papery skin of about 10-12 brown/yellow onions to make this happen. Some people collect onion skins throughout lent, but if you’ve forgotten, go to your local grocery store and ask if you can take some of the papery onion skins left around the onions in the produce aisle. They may look at you funny, but I’m sure they won’t mind you cleaning up for them a bit! You can find the recipe to make them HERE thanks to Charlotte Riggle’s blog, or you can also find a “how-to” video on YouTube HERE.
Red Dye - You can also buy high-quality dye to easily prepare vibrant traditional red eggs HERE from Legacy Icons.

Paska Cheese

Cheese - Some enjoy a custard-like cheese that is sweet and mild, reminding us of the moderation we should have towards everything.

Store Bought Option: If you’re looking for a store bought option, pick cheeses you know your family will love! Feta, Bulgarian Cheese, Mozzarella, or any other artisan cheeses you love!

Paska Cheese Recipes

Paska Cheese this recipe for a Easter cheese dessert is made using Farmer’s cheese, eggs, unsalted butter, sugar and dried fruit and is made in a special mold. The process is lengthy, often taking several days. Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish cuisine all feature paska in their Pascha basket and is paired with kulich or paska bread which is blessed by the parish priest. You can follow a step-by-step recipe HERE thanks to The Spruce Eats. You will need a mold + cheesecloth. Here are a few links:

Pascha Cheese Mold - Sold by Ancient Faith Store
Wooden Easter Mold for Paskha Cheese Paska Pascha Form Small Size on Etsy
Small Flower Pot with a hole on the bottom - can find at Home Depot or Lowes
Cheese Cloth - sold by Amazon

Quick and Easy Pascha Cheese by Matushka Emily

Two Easy and Quick Cheese Pascha Recipes:

Cream Cheese Cheese Pascha & Cream Cheese Cheese Pascha by Charming the Birds from the Trees Blog. Both of these recipes are cream cheese based, and are simply prepared by mixing the ingredients, setting them in a bowl, and decorating with a simple cross on top. Great for a last minute addition to your basket, and won’t take days of preparation. You can find the recipes HERE.

Meat : Sausage, Bacon, Ham

Typically the items below are included in a traditional Pascha Basket. The meat products symbolize the sacrificial animals of the Old Testament, foreshadowing the true sacrifice of our Savior, who became for us “the Lamb of God, taking away the sins of the world.” As we learn from the prayer of blessing, the meat products also symbolize the fattened calf prepared for the Prodigal Son on his return to his Heavenly Father. These items can be purchased already prepared at most grocery stores:

Sausage - spicy, garlicky and scrumptious, they remind us of God’s favor and generosity

Bacon - symbolizes the overabundance of God’s mercy

Ham - is a symbol of the joy and abundance of Pascha!

Butter

Butter- often shaped like a cross or a lamb, the butter reminds us of the goodness of Christ.

Store Bought Option: Bring a stick of butter of store bought butter! Doesn’t have to be in a fancy shape. But if you’d like to try your hand at a fun mold, check out these links below:

Lamb Butter Mold - You can use a candy mold and use it for butter, available on Amazon
Traditional Easter Wooden Butter Lamb Mold - $30 at Amazon
Vintage Metal Mold - on Etsy
Cross Butter Mold - You can use a candy mold for your butter, available through Amazon

Salt

Salt - reminds us that we are the salt of the earth referenced in Matthew 5:13-16 : “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Salt is also necessary for flavor, and reminds the Christian of his duty to others. As salt preserves food, we are to be as salt in the world.

Store Bought Option: Any salt will do! Since traditionally Pascha baskets are blessed, you can take it home and use it for all your cookings or flavoring during the Paschal season!

Bitter Herb

Horseradish with Beets - In some traditions mixed with grated red beets, this is symbolic of the Passion of Christ still in our minds, but sweetened with sugar because of the Resurrection. A bitter-sweet red mixture reminds us of the sufferings of Christ. Having a bitter herb also reminds us of the vinegar that was offered to Christ while he was on the cross.

Store Bought Version - You can easily buy prepared horseradish to include in your basket. But also, if you’re not a fan of horseradish, include any bitter herb of your choosing like prepared mustard.

Recipe

In the Polish tradition, there is a grated horseradish dish with Beets called Ćwikła (CHEEK-wah). This no-cook recipe combines grated horseradish with beets. It is the perfect accompaniment for the sausage and ham. The ratio of horseradish to beets is generally 1 to 3, giving this dish a more mild taste compared to other horseradish condiments. This recipe provides canned and jarred alternatives, but it will taste best with fresh ingredients. You can find the recipe HERE thanks to The Spruce Eats.

Wine

Wine - Reminds us that God takes ordinary food and uses it as an aid in making us holy. From Matthew 26:27-29 “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

Candle

Candle - traditionally a Pascha basket includes a decorated candle. During the eating of the Paschal food, this candle is placed in the middle of the table. Jesus is the true light who brightens the whole world through the radiance of His Holy Resurrection. You can find some candles below:

Decorate Your Own Pascha Candle Kit by Draw Near Designs HERE
Large 18” Beeswax Handmade Resurrection Candle (pictured below) by Lucia and Etheldreda HERE. They also sell an LED Toddler Safe Candle HERE.
For Kids: Electric Flickering Pascha Candle by St Marina Place HERE
Australia - Lambathes (Pascha Candles) by Evlogia Gifts HERE

Paschal Floral Towel Designed by Abigail Art, photo by me — **Paschal Floral Towel** Designed by Abigail Art, photo by me

Pascha Cover

Pascha Cover (Cloth) - the cover reminds us of Christ’s burial shroud. A traditional basket cover is made with a white cloth embroidered with the words, “Christ is Risen,” but there are many beautiful designs available through Orthodox makers, which you can see below:

Paschal Floral Towel Designed by Abigail Art and sold through Draw Near Designs
Cross Pascha Basket Covers - from Living Liturgically on Etsy
Christ is Risen Tea Towel by St Marina’s Place on Etsy

Final Thoughts

Each family will put together Pascha basket that is unique and special. The purpose of this guide is to share the contents of a traditional Pascha basket. This is a “little t” tradition, as we often refer to it, meaning it is something that is done as a local tradition. It is common that family members will include items that they have been abstaining from during the fast, and items they are most looking forward to breaking the fast with after Pascha! In our personal basket, I’ve attempted to add both traditional items + other items we have been missing like Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets, a specialty beer, Krispy Kreme Donuts, and one year we even included a massive cheeseburger from our favorite local burger place! We also have the unique opportunity to create traditions for our families. Consider asking each member of your family what items they would like to include in your family basket. One of the most profound things about our tradition is the Church takes ordinary food, blesses it, and it is used as an aid in making us holy. So enjoy curating the perfect Pascha basket for you and your family!

What to Expect in the Future:

Be sure to follow along with me on Instagram for more Feast Day resources and monthly guides in the coming year! Also, consider subscribing below to receive updates on future guides and resources. Here is what I have in store for the coming year:

Each month I’ll share a heads up on what feast days/liturgical events are happening that month so you can begin to think/plan/prepare for what’s ahead. I’ll also include simple activities and book recommendations. God willing, my May guide will be available next week!
Orthodox Book list for kids and families broken down by month/Feast Day so you can start building a collection with intention. Many of them will be available at your local library or audio books
Feast Day Guides for Individual feast days with more details on how to participate

Thank you for all your support and for checking out my latest Feast Day guide. Good strength, dear friends! We are nearly there to the joyous day of Resurrection!

-Khouria Destinie

St Basil of Ceserea, also known as St Basil the Great, is among the most well-known and beloved saints in the Orthodox Church. He is also one of the Three Holy Hierarchs of the Church, along with St John Chrysostom and St Gregory the Theologian. His feast day is celebrated on January 1, so the New Year is marked with his blessing. In this guide you will find more about the many Greek traditions surrounding this feast, the story of his life, and additional resources to help you create feast day traditions with your families for years to come!

Who was St Basil the Great?

Saint Basil was born in 330 A.D. in Caesarea, Cappadocia.
He was born into a wealthy and very pious family – many of his immediate relatives are also Saints of our Church (his mother Emmelia and his grandmother Macrina, as well as all his siblings, Macrina, Gregory of Nyssa, Peter of Sebastia, and Naucratius).
As a young man, he received the best education of his time, in areas such as philosophy, history, rhetoric, astronomy, medicine, and geometry, not only in is native Caesarea, but also in Constantinople and Athens. In Athens he cultivated a strong friendship with the young Saint Gregory, later called “the Theologian”, a relationship that lasted for their whole lives.
Upon completion of his studies, he returned to Caesarea, where he initially pursued a career as a rhetoric. Soon, under the influence of his older sister Macrina, he decided to give up his career and live as a monastic in voluntary poverty. He lead an ascetic life together with his friend Saint Gregory the Theologian, building monasteries and establishing guidelines for cenobitic monasticism.
In 370, he became Bishop of Caesarea, where he ministered to his flock with great love and selflessness. He established hospitals, schools, orphanages and homes for the elderly. These institutions together consisted a small community named “Vasiliada”.
Saint Basil fought fervently against heresies (false teachings), and wrote extensively on how to live and worship in the Orthodox way. He is considered the author of the Divine Liturgy bearing his name, which is celebrated ten times during the year.
A laboring ascetic, Saint Basil reposed in complete poverty and in poor health, on January 1, 379, at the age of 49.
One liturgy attributed to him is The Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great, a liturgy that is somewhat longer than the more commonly used Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom; it is still used on certain feast days in the Church, such as every Sunday of Great Lent and January 1, on which his memory is celebrated.

Source: https://orthodoxpebbles.com/saints/saint-basil-the-great/

1. Attend a Service

As I often say, the best way to celebrate a feast day of any saint is by attending a Divine Liturgy (as you are able). And what is a better way to ring in the New Year than to begin with worship and thanksgiving to our God? This is an important way to connect our lives at home with our lives in the church, and it is a beautiful way to honor St Basil. Check to see if your church is offering a service either on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day!

2. Read the Story of His Life

One of my favorite ways to teach my kids about a Saint is by reading the story of their life. Thankfully there are a few chidlren’s books available for learning more about St Basil (I’ll share below) and the traditions on his Feast Day. Knowing who the Saint is and the stories of their life serves as the foundation to connecting with the feast day! I find that the combination of story telling and having a hands on activity helps us (and especially children) remember the story far more, and hopefully we can learn to become more like them- more Christ-like! In addition to the resources below, you can read more about St Basil HERE on Orthodox Wiki.

The Story of the Vasilopita Paterikon for Kids by Potamitis Publishing

This pocket size book is perfect for sharing the story behind St Basil and Vasilopita! I cannot rave about these little Paterikon for Kids books more. They are small, lightweight, illustrated and easy to read, and small enough to tuck away in your purse or church bag. For $3.95 per book and free shipping in the US, how can you go wrong? While you're on their site, pick up a few more books for the upcoming feasts (Theophany, St Anthony the Great, St Xenia, The Three Hierarchs, or you can just invest in their January Saints Package). You can buy these books directly on their site HERE or in any of the direct links underlined/tagged above.

The Lucky Cake by Anna Prokos available on Amazon

I just ordered this book from Amazon this year per a friend’s recommendation. It’s a paperback picture book written for children that explains both the tradition of Vasilopita and the story of St Basil. The little boy, Billy, loves his yiayia’s New Year’s cake, but usually he isn’t the one to receive the special coin inside. That is, until this year! I love that it includes the story behind a family who celebrates this feast, plus the true story of St Basil. My girls enjoyed making the connection between the cake in the book and our own Vasilopita! This sweet short story would make a great addition to your feast day book collection. And since it’s on Amazon, you can likely receive it just in time for the feast with their 2-day shipping! You can buy it HERE.

Additional Books that include the Story of St Basil:

The Lives of Our Saints, Book 8 by Spiritual Fragrance Publishing

Friends of Christ - January, Lives of the Saints for Children by Newrome Press

3. Traditions on his Feast Day

The Greek tradition of the Vasilopita (St. Basil’s cake or pie, from the Greek Vasilios = Basil, and pita = pie) is an important part of the Greek New Year’s Day celebration. A special cake containing a hidden coin is cut and shared among the members of the household. Whoever gets the piece with the coin hidden inside of it, is considered to have St. Basil’s blessing for the whole year! It is made of a variety of doughs, depending on regional and family tradition. I’ve included two recipes below : Vasilopita (cake) and Vasilopita Tsoureki (sweet bread). It is also customary on his feast day to visit the homes of friends and relatives, to sing New Year's carols, find ways to serve the poor, and to set an extra place at the table. St Basil, being born into a wealthy family, gave away all his possessions to the poor, the underprivileged, those in need, and children, so in his honor we remember the poor. In some areas in Greece, it is actually St Basil that is brings children presents, not “Santa”.

Check out this YouTube video by Orthodox Mom about St Basil Day!

So what’s the story behind this sweet bread and a coin in it? Glad you asked!

Vasilopita Tradition

This tradition is said to be based on the story that follows:

During a time of famine, the emperor demanded an excessive tax from the people of Caesarea, so each family had to give up all their valuables – money and/or jewelry. Upon finding out this injustice, St. Basil fearlessly defended his people, calling the emperor to repentance. The emperor was moved by St. Basil’s speech, canceled the tax and returned all the valuables to the Saint. The Saint was faced with a daunting task: out of a large amount of items, he had to return each one to its rightful owner. He prayed, then prepared a huge cake and baked the treasures inside of it. After calling his flock to prayer, he blessed and cut the cake, offering a piece to each person. Miraculously, each owner received his own valuables in his piece of the cake. Vasilopitas have been baked on St. Basil’s feast day every year since his repose, to commemorate this miracle.

Source: https://orthodoxpebbles.com/saints/saint-basil-the-great/

Vasilopita Cake Recipe from Orthodox Pebbles:

Ingredients

1 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
2 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
grated zest from one orange and one lemon, both unwaxed
1 tsp vanilla
powdered sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Wrap the coin in a small piece of aluminum foil. Generously butter a 9-inch springform pan and dust all over with flour. Beat all the ingredients together using a stand-mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until very light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Pour mixture into pan and bake for about 45 minutes, or until wooden skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. You can either mix the coin in the raw dough after you pour the dough in the pan, or insert the coin at the bottom of the cake after it is baked. Let the cake cool and dust with powdered sugar. It is customary to write the number of the year in a decorative fashion on the cake’s surface.

** I made the above recipe and only had an 8-inch springform pan, which I cooked for 10 additional minutes (55 minutes) until my skewer inserted in the middle of the cake came out clean. I decorated it by printing the numbers out on paper (CLICK HERE), cutting them out, laying them on the cake and then sprinkling the entire cake with powdered sugar. I then carefully lifted the letters up to reveal “2021” on the cake!

Vasilopita Tsoureki Recipe by Hey Foodie Girl Blog

Since I was sharing the Greek traditions surrounding St Basil Day, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try out an authentic Tsoureki recipe from one of my favorite Greek blogger/friend Catherine! This is her family recipe, tried-and-true, and the results did not disappoint! It’s definitely a labor of love, as it takes many hours of resting, rising, and finally the bake, but don’t be deterred! It makes the most scrumptious sweet bread that rivals any bakery in Greece! Just don’t forget to tuck a coin in the dough! She recommends baking it the day before, on New Year’s Eve so you can cut into it just after midnight or in the morning of New Year’s Day on St Basil’s Feast Day. You can find her recipe HERE along with detailed instructions that even a novice baker can easily comprehend and execute!

Gold Coin for Vasilopita

An important element of the Vasilopita is of course the lucky coin that is tucked inside the cake or bread! This is what sets this bake apart from any other bake! I’ve read that you can use any coin: quarter, dime, penny, etc, as long as you wrap it in foil before inserting it. This year, however, we received a very special coin from Patmos Press that we can use year after year in our family’s Vasilopita! It’s a golden coin stamped with an icon of St Basil along with the inscription “Saint Basil the Great of Cappadocia”. I was very impressed with the sturdiness and brilliance of the coin. My only regret is not ordering more so I could hand out Vasilopita to friends! Ours came with a special clear container so we can store it away for years to come without damaging it. You can order this coin HERE through their Etsy shop. The coin alone costs $8.95 and with the added clear container it’s only a dollar more at $9.95. A great addition to any feast day collection!

4. Prayers and Songs

On the feast day for a saint we are remembering, we like to add an additional prayer during our family prayer time. A simple formula for this, if you don’t have one written down already, is saying “O Holy Saint Basil, pray unto God for us.” My children will often say this simple prayer during family prayer time. There are, however, special prayers written for St Basil which are sung during Liturgy, which go as follows:

Troparion for St Basil (Tone 1)

Your proclamation has gone out into all the earth

Which was divinely taught by hearing your voice

Expounding the nature of creatures,

Ennobling the manners of men.

O holy father of a royal priesthood,

Entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion for St Basil (Tone 4)

You were revealed as the sure foundation of the Church,

Granting all men a lordship which cannot be taken away,

Sealing it with your precepts,

O Venerable and Heavenly Father Basil.

Songs

If you’ve never heard of a New Year’s Carol, you can hear an example of a traditional Greek New Years Carol on YouTube HERE.

5. Additional Activities

I cannot rave enough about what a wonderful FREE online resource Orthodox Pebbles is! They are an amazing teaching resource for parents, creating high-quality, free, online Orthodox Christian educational resources for young children. They also created an entire line of Fabric Learning Sets available for purchase with St Tabitha’s Workshop that are some of my favorite tools for teaching my kids. I literally have purchased ALL of them, because my kids love them and they are the perfect quiet activity for busy hands at church. Anyway, I digress…

Icon craft

This year we used their St Basil the Great Lesson plan from their website and created a St Basil Icon craft using resources we already had on hand: construction paper, washi tape, glue, and glitter! The girls proudly held up their craft and displayed it on our altar while they tasted their Vasilopita. I’ll definitely be saving these forever!

In addition to the icon craft, you can find an easy to follow lesson plan, a vasilopita craft using household items, St Basil Board Game, and their recipe for Vasilopita (which we tried above - highly recommend)! You can find it all HERE on their website. Be sure to check out other lessons plans/resources on their site, including one for Theophany (Epiphany) which is celebrated on Jan 6th, and one for the Three Holy Hierarchs on Jan 30th.

I’ll be mentioning Orthodox Pebbles a lot in the coming year because I appreciate the work they do so very much, and I want others to know about them as well. They create these resources for FREE so that more families can have access to high quality materials in order to teach the faith to their children. Consider making a donation towards their efforts so they can continue creating these wonderful and needful resources - you can make a donation on their Patreon Site HERE.

Serving the Poor

St Basil wrote extensively on how to live as an Orthodox Christian (you can find many of his works translated and published by SVS Press HERE) which includes our responsibility as Christians to care for the poor.

“Consider yourself, who you are, what resources have been entrusted to you, from whom you have received them, and why you have received more than others. You have been made a minister of God’s goodness, a steward of your fellow servants… Resolve to treat the things in your possession as though belonging to others.” - St Basil the Great

One way to honor St Basil is by finding ways to serve the poor as a family. Create a plan for how you will do this in the coming year and include your children in it as well! Some ideas include:

Donate your gently used items, canned goods/food, or money to your local homeless shelter
Organize a collection drive - collect blankets or coats for the homeless in the winter, socks/underwear, etc. Contact the organizations who work for poor people to find out what they need and then organize collection drive by setting up containers at church, schools, or community centers in which people can drop off donations
Assemble Care Kits for the homeless to keep in your car to hand out
Volunteer at a food bank, homeless shelter, or Christian pregnancy crisis center in your area
If you frequently pass by homeless on the street, consider packing an extra sack lunch to hand out. Pray and ask God to reveal the person who is hungry, and he will surely provide!
For more ways to connect, check out FOCUS North America which is an Orthodox Christian organization

Final Thoughts

Lastly, as a reminder, none of these items or traditions I mentioned above are necessary to follow. The beauty of our faith is it is celebrated all over the world, so my hope is to share with you various traditions as a way of introducing you to them. In our family we have adapted some traditions which we have received from others in our parish, and we make them our own. Find what works best for your family and add your own personal additions!

Be sure to follow along with me on Instagram for more Feast Day resources in the coming year! Also, consider subscribing below to receive updates on future guides and resources. Here is what I have in store for the coming year:

Each month I’ll share a heads up on what feast days/liturgical events are happening that month so you can begin to think/plan/prepare for what’s ahead. I’ll also include simple activities and book recommendations
Feast Day Binder - how to stay organized and save these ideas to be used again year after year with little prep work
Orthodox Book list for kids and families broken down by month/Feast Day so you can start building a collection with intention. Many of them will be available at your local library or audio books
Feast Day Guides for Individual feast days with more details on how to participate

Thank you for all your support and for checking out my latest Feast Day guide. Good strength and joyous feast, friends!

-Kh Destinie