What is the name of Denmark’s New Year’s Eve tradition of jumping from a chair at midnight?

Denmark’s New Year’s Eve tradition of jumping from a chair at midnight is known as jumping into the new year.

At the stroke of midnight, some Danes stand on chairs, sofas, or other raised places and jump down. The action symbolically represents leaping into the coming year and is often performed while friends and family celebrate together.

The custom is a playful part of Danish New Year culture rather than a formal ceremony with one universally fixed procedure. People may combine it with champagne, fireworks, the singing of the traditional Danish New Year song, and the televised monarch’s New Year address.

The phrase can be confused with a general “midnight leap” used in other countries, but Danish descriptions specifically emphasize jumping from furniture. Safety is also a practical concern: modern celebrations commonly encourage participants to avoid unstable heights and crowded landings.