Breaking Plates

Most people get upset when plates are broken. Over in Greece, however, plates were once broken on purpose. They broke plates for a variety of reasons. During feasts remembering the dead, they would not only break plates as a visual reminder of the sad event, but also to help deal with the sadness. This custom was also used to celebrate weddings and any other happy times.

When they broke plates, they would not throw them. Instead, the plates were dropped carefully near the person or persons being honored. They don't hit the person, and the plate is turned the other way so the broken pieces don't fly up. The remnants are never picked up and thrown again.

Some believe that traveling pottery makers encouraged the throwing of plates to sell more wares. Since it looked like a fun thing to do, people would do it, not thinking that their plates would have to be replaced. Another reason for the custom could be because of family arguments. The family would break plates to get rid of bad feelings in their homes, since they thought the noise would scare the evil away.

In current times, this custom is considered dangerous. It may be that too many plates were thrown or too many people got hurt. The areas of Greece that allow it require licenses to do it. The plates have mostly been replaced with flowers.