Plate smashing is Denmark's New Year's Eve tradition of throwing old plates against friends' and neighbors' doors.
People traditionally save unwanted or chipped crockery and smash it outside the homes of friends and neighbors around New Year's Eve. A pile of broken plates at a doorway is interpreted as a sign that the household has many loyal friends. The custom turns discarded dishes into a playful symbol of social connection.
The practice is associated with Danish New Year celebrations, but it is not observed by every person or family in Denmark. Modern concerns about cleanup, injuries, and property damage can make households choose alternatives or skip the tradition entirely. As with many customs, descriptions differ between historical accounts and contemporary practice.
This tradition should not be confused with Greece's vasilopita, a New Year cake containing a hidden coin, or with ordinary celebratory glass-raising customs. The distinctive Danish element is the deliberate breaking of plates at or near a doorway, rather than breaking dishes during a meal.