What is the name of the Greek Christmas bread shaped as a cross?

Christopsomo is the Greek Christmas bread traditionally shaped or decorated with a cross.

Its name means “Christ’s bread” in Greek. The loaf is a sweet holiday bread made from enriched dough, and part of the dough is commonly reserved to form the cross on top. Recipes may include raisins, dried figs or apricots, orange zest, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, mahleb, or mastic.

Christopsomo may also be decorated with walnuts, sesame seeds, or almonds and finished with honey or a sweet glaze. The cross gives the loaf its central religious symbolism and distinguishes it from the braided Easter bread commonly called tsoureki or lampropsomo.

The breads are related, which explains why they are sometimes confused. Tsoureki is primarily associated with Easter and may contain red-dyed eggs, while Christopsomo belongs to the Christmas tradition. Vasilopita is another festive Greek loaf or cake, but it is linked to New Year’s Day and usually contains a hidden coin for good fortune.