In a Danish New Year's Eve custom, plates are traditionally thrown or smashed to show friendship.
People may break unwanted dishes against the doors of friends or neighbors, leaving fragments outside the home. A large pile of broken crockery is traditionally interpreted as evidence that the household has many loyal friends willing to celebrate with it. The custom is playful, though modern celebrations vary and many people no longer practice it literally.
The tradition is one of several Danish New Year customs involving noise, food, and symbolic good fortune. Another well-known practice is jumping from a chair at midnight, representing a leap into the new year. Fireworks and festive meals are also common parts of the holiday.
Descriptions sometimes say that people throw plates at one another, which misstates the custom. The dishes are generally broken at a friend's or neighbor's doorway, not used as projectiles toward people. It is also distinct from ordinary tableware traditions elsewhere in Europe.