In Greece's New Year's Eve and New Year's Day tradition, vasilopita may contain a hidden coin for luck.
Vasilopita is a New Year's cake or bread associated with Saint Basil, whose feast day is celebrated on January 1 in the Greek tradition. A coin is baked into the loaf, and family members receive slices. The person who finds the coin is traditionally considered especially fortunate for the coming year.
Families often cut the cake in a set order, giving symbolic slices to Christ, the household, or Saint Basil before serving individual portions. Recipes vary widely: some versions resemble a sweet bread, while others are more like a citrus-flavored cake.
The coin is hidden before serving, so diners must take care while eating. Vasilopita is not the same as baklava, which is a layered pastry with nuts and syrup. Its defining New Year's feature is the concealed lucky coin.