Breaking Plates In Greece

The tradition of breaking plates at Greek celebrations seems to go back so far that where it originated from is a bit of a mystery. The earliest thought is that in ancient times, before going to war, a feast would be held to get all the men riled up to go and fight. Breaking dishes was the final part of this feast. Breaking dishes at funerals was also an ancient Greek tradition. It was a way of mourning, showing love for the deceased by breaking something of value.

Breaking plates is most commonly thought of in a celebratory way. This could stem from an old superstition that by breaking plates it fooled the evil spirits into thinking it was a time of sorrow and therefore warding away bad luck from the celebration. Another superstition is that since a wife might throw plates at a husband during a fight by throwing plates at a wedding it christens the marriage to be free of fights. Another theory is that it started as an accident. That one of the guests at a party dropped and broke some plates and the host of the party began breaking plates so that the guest would not feel bad. The most common feeling is that it is a fun, traditional way to celebrate, bringing good luck to those at the party. The act of breaking plates is very invigorating and generally adds to the festive feeling of the party.

Even though this custom is still commonly practiced at Greek weddings and celebrations, many restaurants and nightclubs where this has been a common practice for years has had to stop. If plates are thrown the wrong way pieces of glass can go flying, causing injuries and potential law suites.