In Greece, a pomegranate is traditionally smashed or broken on New Year's Day to symbolize abundance and good luck.
The custom is often performed by throwing a pomegranate against the entrance of a home, although practices vary. The many seeds scattered by the broken fruit are interpreted as a sign of plenty, fertility, and prosperity for the household in the year ahead.
Pomegranates have a long symbolic history in the Mediterranean. Their tough outer skin and large number of seeds made them powerful images of life, abundance, and the cycle of renewal. Greek New Year's customs connect those older associations with the modern household celebration.
The practice is not universal in every Greek family, and some people use a pomegranate as decoration or keep it near the entrance rather than smashing it. It should also be distinguished from the Greek New Year's cake vasilopita, which contains a hidden coin and is cut separately.