Greeks traditionally smash a pomegranate at midnight or on New Year's Day for good luck.
The pomegranate is associated with abundance, fertility, and prosperity because its tough skin contains many jewel-like seeds. In a Greek New Year's custom, a pomegranate may be smashed against the entrance of a home. The number of seeds scattered is popularly connected with the household's prospects for happiness and success.
Some families instead hang a pomegranate near the front door before the holiday and break it at the start of the new year. Customs differ among regions and households, so there is no single universal ceremony or required method. The shared symbolism is the fruit's abundance and the wish that good fortune will enter the home.
Pomegranate symbolism in Greece is much older than modern New Year's celebrations. The fruit appears in ancient Greek mythology, including stories involving Persephone, and later acquired religious and seasonal associations. That long cultural history helps explain its continuing role in modern festive rituals.