A coin is traditionally baked into Greece's New Year's cake, vasilopita.
Vasilopita is served on New Year's Day in Greece and in some Greek communities abroad. A hidden coin is placed inside the cake before or during baking. Family members or guests receive slices, and the person who finds the coin is traditionally said to receive good luck for the coming year.
The cake is associated with Saint Basil, whose feast day is celebrated on January 1 in the Greek Orthodox tradition. Some households cut a symbolic slice for Christ, the household, or absent family members before distributing individual portions.
Recipes vary by region and family. Vasilopita may resemble a sweet bread, cake, or citrus-flavored loaf, so the coin—not one specific recipe—is the defining feature. A wrapped coin is used in modern preparations to reduce food-safety concerns, and diners are expected to eat carefully.