Greek bakers wanted to send their wishes for a Happy and sweet 2018 to the residents of Athens by making a 2,500 pound Vasilopita and distributing some 15,000 slices of the holiday cake.
The 230-foot-long and 10-foot-wide New Year’s cake was on display in the central square in Athens’ suburban municipality of Peristeri. The Association of Athens Bakers claimed it was the largest ever made in Greece, and probably the world.
Forty bakers worked for three days mixing ingredients and baking.
200 “lucky coins” were hid inside the cake. Those who found the coins will have blessings throughout the year, according to Greek tradition.
“We are cutting the Vassilopita of the love and solidarity,” Andreas Pachatouridis, the mayor of Peristeri said at the cutting ceremony.
“This is the message we want to convey, that there should be solidarity among us these difficult days,” referring to the debt crisis which has hit hard Greece since 2009.
“All people living in Greece these days need a taste of optimism, joy and happiness.”
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