In a Danish New Year's Eve tradition, old plates are smashed outside friends' and neighbors' homes.
The custom is associated with leaving unwanted crockery at the doors of people one cares about. A large pile of broken plates was traditionally interpreted as evidence that a household had many friends and was socially well connected. It is a symbolic act rather than an attempt to damage property.
The Danish celebration also includes other distinctive customs, such as jumping from a chair or sofa at midnight to “jump into” the new year. People may watch the monarch's annual New Year's speech and eat festive foods including cod, marzipan, and champagne, though menus differ by household.
The plate-smashing practice is less common than it once was because of noise, cleanup, safety, and changing household habits. It is therefore best described as a traditional Danish custom, not a universal modern requirement for every New Year's Eve celebration.