In Denmark, old plates are traditionally smashed against friends' doors around New Year's Eve.
The custom involves saving unwanted crockery and breaking it outside the homes of friends or neighbors. A large pile of fragments is traditionally interpreted as a sign that a household has many loyal friends who wished to celebrate with it.
The practice is a folk custom rather than a universal requirement, and modern celebrations may treat it humorously or replace it with safer forms of noise-making. Throwing objects at doors can create hazards, so contemporary households and municipalities may discourage or regulate the activity.
Danish New Year's Eve also includes a midnight speech by the monarch, fireworks, and the traditional dessert kransekage, a ring-shaped almond cake. These customs are distinct from the plate-smashing tradition, which is mainly remembered as a symbol of friendship and social connection.