The Greek New Year's cake that traditionally contains a hidden lucky coin is called vasilopita.
Vasilopita is served on New Year's Day in Greece and in Greek communities elsewhere. A coin is baked into the cake, and slices are distributed to family members, guests and sometimes symbolic recipients such as the household or a church. The person who finds the coin is traditionally considered especially fortunate for the coming year.
The name means “Basil's pie” and is linked to Saint Basil the Great, whose feast day is celebrated on January 1 in the Greek Orthodox tradition. Different regions prepare vasilopita as a sweet cake, bread or pastry, so its texture and flavor are not identical everywhere.
The coin is usually wrapped carefully before being placed in the mixture, but diners still need to eat cautiously. Vasilopita should not be confused with tsoureki, a braided Greek Easter bread, even though both may appear in Greek festive food traditions.