The Dance of St. Basil and the Cappadocian customs for the New Year

A festive, ritualistic traditional dance, which bears the name of Saint Basil, and is connected with the special New Year’s Eve custom “Santa Claus” from Farasa, is revived every year in Platy, Imathia, by the Association of Cappadocians of Platy “O Varasos”. It holds, in fact, an important place in every meeting of the Cappadocians everywhere (Gavoussystem).

“[Folk dances and songs]… have survived as the quintessence of our history. Our history has found its expression in this treasure, which no conqueror has been able to take away.” Dora Stratou

It is circular and is referred to elsewhere as mixed and elsewhere as being danced separately by men and women. Ο πρώτος στη σειρά, κρατά στο δεξί του χέρι ένα ραβδί, με το οποίο δίνει το ρυθμό και ο δεύτερος με τους υπόλοιπους πιάνονται μεταξύ τους από τα ζωνάρια. Αποτελείται από τέσσερα διαφορετικά κινητικά μέρη που το καθένα έχει έξι βήματα, όπως το περιγράφει ο Κόκκινος το 1987.

The custom

This dance, back in Varasos (Farasa) where it was preserved for centuries, was part of the festive and pilgrimage procession, which started from Mesochori and reached the cave of Agios Vasilios, an hour’s journey, every New Year’s Eve. Μόλις σκοτείνιαζε, οι πιστοί συγκεντρώνονταν σε μεγάλες παρέες, συγγενείς, γείτονες και φίλοι, στην πλατεία του χωριού. They held torches, their bags of food and as soon as the “resounding” signal was given by the rifles, they proceeded with a dance step, to the slow Byzantine rhythm of the song “t’ Ez-Vassili” which begins with the words “Hytate to go to Es-Vassili” (run to Santa Claus).

“Let’s go get some E-Christmas,

Let’s tear down the crepes of the snake

Essyren dazi gave me a geyser,

Last night, I was just talking to her.

Vai, Holy Mary, Mother of God

Κύριε ελεήμον, Κύριε ελέησον!”

Πρώτος πορευόταν ο παπάς και η συνοδεία του. When they arrived at the distant cave with the chapel of the Saint, where local tradition wanted him to have ascended or taken refuge to save himself from persecution, the priest would chant while the faithful lit candles, worshipped and incense. Others were preparing the fires to dry their snow-soaked clothes, get warm and start the feast. They grilled their spits, spread the rich delicacies they brought with them, bought wine and set up the dance. Then, with the same festive mood, they returned to their homes.

The story behind the custom

The dance and the all-night procession is held in memory of the miracle of the Saint, where through his own prayers, as well as those of the Christians, at the temple of the Virgin Mary on Mount Didymon, Caesarea was saved from the threats of the then emperor, Julian the Betrayer, who had announced that he would destroy it. Οι Καισάρειοι επέστρεψαν στο ναό της Θεοτόκου με μία λιτανευτική προσκύνηση για να την ευχαριστήσουν για τη σωτηρία τους.

Ended year 2023 – Blessed year 2023