Vasilopita is Greece's New Year's cake that traditionally contains a hidden coin for good luck.
The cake is served on New Year's Day, often after a family or community cutting ceremony. A coin is baked into the cake, and the person who receives the slice containing it is traditionally considered fortunate for the coming year.
The name comes from Saint Basil, or Agios Vasilios, whose feast day is celebrated in Greece on 1 January. This makes the cake part of both New Year's observance and the Greek Orthodox calendar. Recipes vary: some versions resemble a sweet bread, while others are closer to a citrus-flavored cake.
Vasilopita should not be confused with tsoureki, the braided sweet bread more closely associated with Greek Easter. The hidden coin and New Year's cutting ritual are the defining features of vasilopita.