At midnight on New Year's Eve in Denmark, people traditionally smash plates against friends' or neighbours' doors for good luck.
The Danish plate-smashing custom involves saving unwanted crockery and breaking it outside the homes of people one wishes well. A pile of broken plates at a doorway is traditionally interpreted as a sign that the household has many loyal friends. The ritual is separate from Denmark's other well-known New Year's custom of jumping from a chair at midnight.
Historically, the practice used old or chipped dishes rather than valuable tableware. In modern celebrations it is far less universal than televised countdowns, fireworks, festive dinners and champagne, and some people avoid it because of noise, litter and the risk of injury.
Descriptions of the custom can vary: some accounts say plates are thrown directly at doors, while others describe leaving broken pieces outside. The central object and symbolism remain the same—discarded plates represent friendship and good wishes for the coming year.