What is the name of the Greek Christmas bread often decorated with a cross?

The Greek Christmas bread often decorated with a cross is called Christopsomo.

Christopsomo, meaning “Christ’s bread,” is a traditional Greek Christmas loaf. It is commonly prepared as a rich, festive bread containing ingredients such as flour, yeast, spices, citrus zest, dried fruit, nuts, and sometimes mastic or mahleb. A cross made from reserved strips of dough is often placed on top before baking.

The cross gives the loaf its strong Christian symbolism and distinguishes it from several other Greek holiday breads. Families may decorate Christopsomo with walnuts, sesame seeds, almonds, or additional dough ornaments. Recipes differ considerably between households and regions, so the bread may be plain, fruit-filled, sweetened with honey, or shaped in a round loaf.

Christopsomo is sometimes confused with tsoureki, the braided Greek Easter bread, or vasilopita, a New Year’s cake traditionally containing a hidden coin. These breads belong to related holiday traditions but serve different occasions. Christopsomo is specifically associated with Christmas and is often treated as a blessed centerpiece of the holiday table.