Vasilopita is the Greek New Year's cake traditionally baked with a hidden coin.
The cake is cut around New Year's Day, often at midnight or during a family gathering. The person who receives the slice containing the coin is traditionally considered likely to have good luck during the coming year. The coin is hidden in the batter before baking and is meant to be discovered carefully.
Vasilopita is named for Saint Basil, whose feast day is celebrated in Greece on January 1. Stories connecting the cake with Saint Basil describe him returning valuables to people by hiding them in baked goods, although versions of the story differ.
Recipes vary by region and household. Some vasilopites resemble a sweet bread, while others are more like a cake. Families may also cut symbolic slices for religious figures, the household, or absent relatives before serving individual portions.