St Basil's Day - Greek New Year

Another little private “spouse dating party” I organised a couple of years ago on New Year’s Day which in Greece is “St Basil’s Day” and has some very special traditions. This was part of a year we themed “Around the World at Home” and celebrated another country each month which gave us lots of ideas for activities and celebrations.
On St Basil’s Day we had a mezze buffet (sadly there was nowhere to put hubby’s equipment so we had only half the dining table available and you see a lot of electronics around in the photos) with Ouzo and Retsina, a traditional Vasilopita (St Basil’s Cake) and presents, and a mini around-the-house treasure hunt ending the evening in the bedroom…very suitable set-up for spouse dating.
I also decorated all around the room with lots of Greek things and lots of butterflies (Land of the Butterflies – there are over 3500 species of butterfly in Greece!). The photos above show a lot of the decorations and the food as well as a fun present and the treasure hunt stations with explanations in the captions (in case anybody wants to recreate a similar event I'll also put the treasure hunt clues below). Both the present and the treasure hunt are Greek mythological themes: Pandora's Box and the Odyssey.

Odyssey Treasure Hunt Clues:
CLUE 1: A letter I gave him with a pen & pad and a short summary of the Odyssey, explaining how to play this treasure hunt.
CLUE 2: ON SHOPPING BOARD WITH DIARY
"Next you will visit the Cyclops – not a terribly long journey either, and a fair bit of retracing. Odysseus blinds the Cyclops to be able to escape…so the poor creature would like some better sight again. Look for your gift under a recently acquired vision aid we now keep in a place accessible to both of us. If you read on in the story it will explain the gift!"
CLUE 3: UNDER MAGNIFYING GLASS WITH SEAN THE SHEEP
"Now find the island of Aeolus – his talent is not one to keep indoors! You will have to venture into his domain to find your next gift and clue."
CLUE 4: TAPED IN PLASTIC BAG TO GREENHOUSE WITH BIN BAG & MESSAGE CARD
[Message from Aeolus: “I’m providing the bag…I didn’t think you had a shortage of wind, so please use your own if needed.”]
"Retrace your journey into the main part of the archipelago. Head for the little island around which various whirlpools can be found. Your gift will be near Charybdis, the smallest of the whirlpool installations. You need to make use of your gift straight away in order to prepare for later tasks (or find a similar substance to use nearby). Dare Charybdis without getting sucked down!"
CLUE 5: IN BATHROOM WITH A LITTLE GUEST SOAP
"Odysseus is still going in circles, so revisit an area where you’ve been before. Now, where would the cannibals hide a gift and clue?"
CLUE 6: IN POT WITH SWEET
"You have escaped the cooking pot – now you’ll have to dare Circe the Witch! Check your book to see what she did to Odysseus’s crew; then find your gift and clue where we keep the only piece we might have of one of those…"
CLUE 7: IN FRIDGE WITH KISSED PIG CARTOON & MESSAGE CARD
[Pig Message: “I am your Lucky Pig – you can collect lots of those red marks on my face later upstairs…”]
"You need to find Teiresias! The story will tell you what he is and why he can give you good advice. Find this advice in another book where there is much wisdom written by his fellows of another culture."
CLUE 8: IN BIBLE WITH SEXY UNDIES & MESSAGE CARD
[Tereisias message: “My advice is to go upstairs now and not come down again until your quest is finished. And be prepared for the end of your journey by straight away using the gift you’ve found here - NOW.”]
"The sirens are calling in the distance. Read in the story what kind of noise they are making and find your next gift on an instrument that might accompany such music."
CLUE 9: ON PIANO WITH PLECTRUM
"You are visiting the island of Helios. The story tells you what mood he’s in and why! He has decided to act on his mood and thrown your next stop into chaos! You must search for the Greek ribbon of your gift in the chaos to find the last clue."
CLUE 10: IN STORAGE ROOM WITH GLOSTICK
"Check the story to see who’s awaiting you next. Follow her song which you can now hear. She will make you at home and you will enjoy her company. Find the last clue on the entrance to her island’s harbour."
CLUE 11: BEDROOM DOOR – CLUE ONLY
"You’ve reached the end of your quest! Welcome to the island of Calypso the Nymph. The wild one is ready to receive you…enter at your own peril. No gift here, for Calypso considers herself a gift to you. Enjoy!"

If this doesn't make sense, go and read the Odyssey...there are lots of short versions on the Internet! The photos will also help you imagine it. Hubby thoroughly enjoyed it. Feel free to recreate this game!

• What People Ate

  Mezze Buffet with Dolmades (stuffed wine leaves); Horiatiki (Greek Salad in Cucumber Cups); Vegetable Sticks with Houmous and Walnut Skordalia; Meetballs; Greek Style Sardines; Ham & Cucumber Rolls.

• What People Drank

  Cucumber Water, Ouzo, Retsina (Greek white wine)

• Desserts

  Almond Stuffed Dates; Blue Jelly; Honey Fruit; Vasilopita (St Basil's Cake).

• Party Favors

  In Pandora's Box: gummy snakes and Medusa beer and a tactile wooden cross (i.e. worry cross).

• Activities / Games

  Odyssey Treasure Hunt with lots of little gift finds.