In Copenhagen, what do some people traditionally do with old plates on New Year's Eve?

In Copenhagen, a traditional New Year's Eve custom is to smash old plates against friends' doors.

The broken crockery is left outside the homes of friends or neighbors, and a larger pile traditionally signals a larger circle of people wishing the household well. The practice is associated with friendship, goodwill, and a noisy farewell to the old year.

The custom is often described as a Danish tradition, but practices differ by family and region, and it is not a universal part of contemporary Danish celebrations. Modern participants may use unwanted dishes rather than household tableware specifically kept for the ritual.

Denmark also has quieter New Year's customs, including watching the monarch's annual speech and eating festive foods. The plate-smashing practice is therefore one colorful tradition among several, not the definition of Danish New Year as a whole.