Greek New Year's celebrations traditionally cut vasilopita, a cake containing a hidden coin for good luck.
Vasilopita is named for Saint Basil the Great and is served around New Year's Day in Greece and in Greek communities abroad. A coin, called a flouri, is baked into the cake before it is served. The person who receives the slice containing the coin is traditionally believed to have special luck for the coming year.
Families often make a ceremonial first cut for religious or household purposes before distributing slices to guests. Recipes vary by region and household: some versions resemble a sweet bread, while others are more cake-like and may include citrus flavoring, spices, or nuts. The shared cutting is more important than one universal recipe.
Vasilopita is sometimes confused with tsoureki, the braided sweet bread commonly associated with Easter. Both are Greek baked goods, but the hidden New Year's coin is the defining feature of vasilopita. The name also explains why Saint Basil, rather than Santa Claus, has a prominent role in Greek seasonal traditions.