In a Danish New Year's Eve custom, plates are traditionally smashed against doors to bring friendship and good luck.
The practice involves throwing or breaking old plates and dishes against the doors of friends or neighbors. A large pile of broken crockery outside a home is traditionally interpreted as a sign that the household has many friends who wished to celebrate its good fortune.
The custom is a form of festive folk practice rather than a universal rule followed by every Danish household. Modern celebrations may adapt or omit it because of safety, noise, cleanup, and concerns about damaging property. Danish New Year's Eve also commonly includes a midnight speech, fireworks, and the eating of celebratory food.
The tradition can be confused with other European New Year's customs involving broken glassware, but the well-known Danish version specifically centers on plates or dishes. It is therefore distinct from the Spanish grape ritual and Japan's temple-bell ceremony.