On New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, Greeks traditionally cut vasilopita to reveal a hidden coin.
Vasilopita is a New Year cake or bread named for Saint Basil, whose feast day is celebrated on January 1 in the Greek Orthodox tradition. A coin called a flouri is baked into the loaf before it is served. The person who finds it is traditionally considered especially fortunate for the coming year.
Families often make ceremonial cuts for Christ, the household, and individual family members before distributing the slices. In some settings, organizations, workplaces, and clubs also cut a vasilopita. Recipes vary: some versions resemble a sweet cake, while others are closer to enriched bread.
The hidden coin should not be confused with the separate European custom of placing objects in festive cakes for luck. Vasilopita is specifically tied to the Greek New Year and Saint Basil, although related traditions exist in Greek communities outside Greece.