A coin is traditionally baked into Greece's New Year's cake, vasilopita, to bring luck to the finder.
Vasilopita is served around New Year's Day in Greece and in Greek communities around the world. A coin is hidden inside the cake before it is baked, or placed into it afterward in some versions. The person who receives the slice containing the coin is traditionally considered especially fortunate for the coming year.
The cake's name is linked to Saint Basil, whose feast day is celebrated on January 1 in the Greek Orthodox tradition. Families often cut slices in a formal order, first setting aside pieces for religious or household purposes and then distributing pieces to family members and guests. Practices differ, so the exact cutting sequence is not universal.
Vasilopita may be a sweet bread, cake, or regional variation, and ingredients differ across Greece. The hidden coin is the defining lucky object, not a particular recipe. It is also important to distinguish the tradition from the French galette des rois, which may contain a figurine associated with Epiphany.