A different kind of bougatsa, a New Year's Eve one and with... a penny at "Phyllosophies" in Heraklion, Crete
For those who are unfamiliar with the Greek customs, New Year’s Eve is intertwined with the anticipation of cutting the traditional Vasilopita (meaning Saint Vasileios Pie – instead of the English equivalent Santa Claus” which actually is an anglicized version of the Dutch name “Sinterklaas,” namely a shortened form of “Sint Nikolaas,” meaning Saint Nicholas) on New Year’s Eve or even on the 1st day of the year.
Sometimes, of course, this anticipation does not concern the pie itself but the coin hidden inside it, which, depending on the occasion, can promise long-awaited gifts.
OK, the above probably needs some explanation: The Greek New Year’s Eve pie usually contains a penny – a real or fake coin, which according to tradition whoever finds it will have great luck throughout the new year.
Customs, however, are not the same everywhere in Greece. So, for example, the Cretans in Heraklion have replaced the New Year’s Vasilopita with the New Year’s… Bougatsa! The custom is already over a century old and has sweetened generations of Heraklion residents at the turn of the year.
The custom is so prevalent in Crete that bougatsa has become synonymous with the “New Year’s Eve Sweet”!
And since the custom includes bougatsa, a dominant role in this could not be played by any other than a central shop in Heraklion with a 100-plus year history in the preparation of the best bougatsa in Crete and one of the best and most famous in the entire country.
Of course, we are talking about Phyllosophies, which, under the management of Mr. Yannis Salkintzis, grandson of the founder of the first bougatsa shop in Heraklion, not only offers the famous Cretan bougatsa in each of their three stores (33 Lion Square, 97 Irakli in Mastampas & 1 Kastrinogiannakis in Filothei), but on New Year’s Eve they also fill them with coins!
Sometimes, of course, this anticipation does not concern the pie itself but the coin hidden inside it, which, depending on the occasion, can promise long-awaited gifts.
OK, the above probably needs some explanation: The Greek New Year’s Eve pie usually contains a penny – a real or fake coin, which according to tradition whoever finds it will have great luck throughout the new year.
Customs, however, are not the same everywhere in Greece. So, for example, the Cretans in Heraklion have replaced the New Year’s Vasilopita with the New Year’s… Bougatsa! The custom is already over a century old and has sweetened generations of Heraklion residents at the turn of the year.
The custom is so prevalent in Crete that bougatsa has become synonymous with the “New Year’s Eve Sweet”!
And since the custom includes bougatsa, a dominant role in this could not be played by any other than a central shop in Heraklion with a 100-plus year history in the preparation of the best bougatsa in Crete and one of the best and most famous in the entire country.
Of course, we are talking about Phyllosophies, which, under the management of Mr. Yannis Salkintzis, grandson of the founder of the first bougatsa shop in Heraklion, not only offers the famous Cretan bougatsa in each of their three stores (33 Lion Square, 97 Irakli in Mastampas & 1 Kastrinogiannakis in Filothei), but on New Year’s Eve they also fill them with coins!
So, those of you who find yourself in Heraklion during these festive days, don’t forget to stop by Phyllosophies, both to try the famous “Best Bougatsa of Crete” in amazing variations – unique in all of Greece – and also to try to win one of the prizes.
But, even if you find yourself in Herakleion at any time of the year, go there and ask them for the “New Year’s Eve Sweet” and experience the best bougatsa of Greece in your favorite flavor!
But, even if you find yourself in Herakleion at any time of the year, go there and ask them for the “New Year’s Eve Sweet” and experience the best bougatsa of Greece in your favorite flavor!