What traditional Danish action is performed at midnight on New Year's Eve for good luck?

Jumping off chairs at midnight is a traditional Danish New Year's Eve action associated with good luck.

At the stroke of midnight, some people in Denmark stand on a chair, sofa or another raised place and jump down. The action symbolically “jumps” people into the new year and is commonly described as a way to bring luck for the months ahead.

Danish New Year's Eve also includes a televised royal speech, festive food and fireworks. Another well-known custom involves throwing or smashing old plates against friends' or neighbors' doors, although practices differ between households and communities.

The chair-jumping custom should not be treated as a universal requirement or as a formal national ceremony. It is a popular tradition reported in descriptions of Danish celebrations, and families may adapt it for safety. The key timing is midnight, when 31 December changes to 1 January.