In a traditional Danish New Year’s Eve custom, people smash plates outside friends’ and neighbours’ homes for good luck.
The practice involves saving or using old crockery and breaking it at the entrance of someone’s house. A large pile of broken plates was traditionally interpreted as evidence that a household had many friends and well-wishers.
The custom is often described alongside other Danish New Year traditions, including jumping from a chair at midnight to “jump” into the new year. Fireworks and festive meals are also central to modern celebrations.
This tradition should not be confused with breaking a glass for a toast, which is not the distinctive answer here. The plates are usually unwanted or specially retained crockery, rather than valuable tableware.