What is the name of Denmark’s New Year custom in which people jump from chairs at midnight?

Denmark’s New Year custom of jumping from chairs at midnight is known as jumping from chairs.

In the custom, people stand on chairs, sofas, or other raised places and jump down as the clock reaches midnight. The action is often described as symbolically jumping into the new year. It is a playful household tradition and is especially associated with Danish New Year celebrations shown on television and shared at parties.

Danish New Year customs also include eating celebratory food, watching the monarch’s New Year speech, and enjoying fireworks. A traditional dessert called kransekage, a ring-shaped almond cake, is commonly associated with the occasion. Some people also throw or break old plates at friends’ and neighbors’ doors, a custom linked with friendship and good luck.

The chair-jumping ritual should not be confused with a formal religious ceremony or a single nationwide public event. Details vary from family to family, and safety is important because jumping from furniture can cause falls. Its appeal lies in the shared symbolic moment rather than a complicated set of rules.