Plate smashing is the Danish New Year’s Eve tradition of breaking old plates outside friends’ homes.
In the custom, people save unwanted crockery and smash it against the doors or walls of friends and neighbors. A large pile of broken dishes is traditionally interpreted as evidence that the household has many loyal friends who visited to wish them well.
The practice is associated with Denmark’s New Year celebrations, although it is less universal than highly organized public countdowns. Modern safety concerns and changing habits mean that not every Danish household follows it, and some people use disposable or symbolic alternatives.
The tradition is sometimes confused with customs involving throwing objects for luck in other countries. Its distinctive feature is the deliberate breaking of plates at another person’s home, not simply using festive tableware during dinner.