In Denmark, people traditionally jump off chairs at midnight on New Year’s Eve to welcome the new year.
The custom is often described as symbolically jumping into the new year. At the stroke of midnight, participants may stand on chairs, sofas, or other raised furniture and leap down as the year changes. It is a playful household tradition rather than a formal public ceremony.
Danish New Year’s Eve also includes a royal New Year speech, festive food, champagne, fireworks, and the midnight singing of “Vær velkommen, Herrens år.” The combination of domestic customs and public rituals gives the holiday a distinctive place in Danish culture.
The chair-jumping custom should not be confused with the Danish practice of throwing or smashing old plates against friends’ doors, which is another New Year tradition often discussed in accounts of Denmark. The two customs are separate, although both are associated with good fortune and social celebration.