Nytårsaften is the Danish name for New Year's Eve, a night associated with several Danish traditions, including breaking unwanted dishes.
In the custom often described as Danish plate smashing, people throw old plates and other crockery against the doors of friends or relatives. The broken pieces are meant to symbolize friendship and goodwill, and a large pile can be interpreted as evidence of many friends. Modern practice varies, and the tradition is less universal than popular descriptions suggest.
Denmark's New Year's Eve also includes a televised royal speech, a midnight dessert called kransekage, and the tradition of jumping from a chair or sofa at midnight. The Danish word “nytårsaften” literally means “New Year's Eve,” while “nytårsdag” means New Year's Day.