What is the name of the New Year’s Eve tradition in Denmark involving broken plates?

The Danish New Year’s Eve tradition involving broken plates is called plate smashing.

In the custom, people break unwanted plates and dishes outside the homes of friends or neighbors. A large pile of broken crockery is traditionally interpreted as a sign that the household has many friends and well-wishers. The practice is especially associated with Denmark’s New Year celebrations.

The tradition is sometimes described as “smashing plates” or “throwing plates,” but it refers to deliberately breaking old tableware rather than damaging valuable dishes. Modern celebrations may adapt or omit it because of safety, cleanup, and environmental concerns.

Danish New Year customs also include eating festive food, watching the monarch’s New Year speech, and jumping from a chair at midnight to symbolically leap into the New Year. These customs are separate from the plate-breaking practice, despite often appearing in the same descriptions of Danish celebrations.