The Greek New Year’s Eve dish traditionally baked with a hidden coin is vasilopita.
Vasilopita is a New Year cake or bread named after Saint Basil, whose feast day is celebrated in Greece on January 1. A coin, called a flouri, is hidden inside before the cake is baked. The person who finds it in the served slice is traditionally considered blessed or lucky for the coming year.
Families often cut the vasilopita ceremonially at midnight or on New Year’s Day. The first slices may be dedicated to Christ, Saint Basil, the household, or absent family members before individual portions are distributed.
Recipes vary by region and household. Some versions resemble a sweet, citrus-flavored cake, while others are more bread-like. The hidden coin custom can be confused with similar lucky-object traditions elsewhere, but vasilopita is specifically associated with Greek New Year observance and Saint Basil.