Plates are traditionally broken for luck during New Year celebrations in Denmark.
A Danish New Year custom involves smashing old plates and dishes against the doors of friends’ or neighbors’ homes. The broken crockery is associated with friendship and good fortune: a large pile outside a home can traditionally indicate that many people care about the household.
The custom is often described as a form of affectionate festive vandalism, although its popularity and practice vary. Some accounts say people save unwanted dishes for the occasion, while modern celebrations may use safer or symbolic alternatives. It is not the same as breaking mirrors, which is associated with an unrelated superstition.
Danish New Year celebrations also commonly include a midnight speech by the monarch, television broadcasts, fireworks, and the traditional dessert called kransekage. These customs coexist with private parties and family gatherings, so not every Danish household follows every ritual.