Vasilis Mpantis

 “Without a feast you can not celebrate your name day – the same way as without a bride you cannot celebrate a marriage”

Sofades, 2025.

Mr. Vasilis, the 72-year-old head of the family and a lifelong clarino player who performed at large-scale events, mainly weddings and panigiria across Greece, shared vivid memories connecting music, food, and family life. He recalled that these celebrations were centred around abundant meat dishes, especially ribs, while at home his favourite meal remains veal with peas, cooked perfectly by his wife. Reflecting on his childhood as a nomad, he emphasized that freshly cooked food was a constant in his family, a tradition passed from his mother to his wife and later to his daughters. One of the most striking stories he shared was from when his own children were young: every morning, a Vlach milkmonger named Christina delivered fresh milk to their door, and it was he—not his wife, as social expectations might suggest—who woke up early to collect it, boil it, and prepare breakfast for the children. 

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Original language: Grecce/Romani