In Greek New Year's celebrations, a coin is traditionally hidden inside vasilopita.
Vasilopita is a New Year's cake or bread associated with Saint Basil, whose feast day is observed on January 1 in the Greek Orthodox tradition. Before serving, the cake is cut into portions for family members and sometimes for the household, church, or other symbolic recipients. The person who finds the coin is traditionally believed to receive luck for the coming year.
Recipes vary by region and family. Vasilopita may resemble a sweet cake, a brioche-like bread, or another enriched baked good, and it is often decorated with the year in icing or almonds. The coin is wrapped carefully so it can be baked safely into the cake.
The custom is sometimes compared with other European cakes containing hidden objects, but vasilopita has its own connection to Saint Basil. The coin is not simply a prize; it is the central symbol of the cake's New Year blessing.