Vasilopita is the Greek New Year's cake traditionally baked with a hidden coin.
The cake is cut and served around New Year's Day, often after midnight on New Year's Eve or during a New Year's Day gathering. The person who finds the coin in their slice is traditionally believed to receive good luck for the coming year.
The name means “Saint Basil's pie” or “Saint Basil's cake,” linking the custom with Saint Basil's feast day on January 1 in the Greek Orthodox calendar. Families, workplaces, clubs, and organizations may each cut their own vasilopita.
Recipes vary by region and household. Some versions resemble a rich cake, while others are closer to a sweet bread. The important identifying feature is the concealed coin and the ceremonial slicing, not one universal recipe.