Greek Traditions: Breaking of Plates

Where did the Greek tradition of breaking plates come from? No one seems to know for sure. There are several theories, the most common of which being that the custom is a holdover from an ancient tradition of breaking ceramic plates as a symbol that commemorates the dead. One assumption about this tradition is that breaking of plates may be a symbolic way to counteract the uncontrolled loss of a loved one by creating a loss that can be controlled.

Breaking things is usually associated with anger, and one theory is that people began to break plates during joyful celebrations as a way to fool malevolent spirits into believing the event was a violent one instead of joyful in order to drive them away. Some believe that breaking plates during a performance is a way to protect the dancers and musicians from the evil influences present in the dishes. Greek wedding celebrations usually involve lots of food, music, dancing, and the breaking of plates. This may have evolved from an ancient custom of breaking a plate in the doorway of the newlyweds’ new home to ward off evil spirits.

In our current society, the ritual breaking of plates in public places now requires a license in most areas. In some locations, it is even banned outright to protect both the customers from injury and the restaurant owners from expensive lawsuits. Many Greek restaurants have begun to replace the breaking of plates with the throwing of flowers, as this is cheaper, easier to clean up, and more fragrant.