In Denmark, what do some people traditionally do from a chair at midnight on New Year's Eve?

In Denmark, some people traditionally jump from a chair at midnight to jump into the new year.

The custom is a playful New Year's Eve ritual in which celebrants stand on a chair, sofa or other raised surface and leap down as the clock reaches midnight. The action symbolizes leaving the old year and entering the new one. It is particularly associated with Danish household celebrations, alongside midnight speeches, fireworks and festive meals.

The practice is often described in English as “jumping into the new year,” while Danish descriptions use the idea of jumping ind i det nye år. It is not a single officially regulated ceremony, and participation varies from family to family.

This tradition is easy to confuse with Denmark's separate custom of smashing old plates or dishes against friends' and neighbors' doors. The two practices can occur during the same celebration, but they represent different New Year's customs. Safety-conscious celebrants use a stable, low surface and avoid crowded or slippery areas.