Plate smashing is a Greek custom involving the smashing of plates or glasses during celebratory occasions. In popular culture, the practice is most typical of foreigners' stereotypicalimage of Greece, and while it occurs more rarely today, it continues to be seen on certain occasions, such as weddings, although plaster plates are more likely to be used.
History in Greece
Ancient and medieval
The custom probably derives from an ancient practice of ritually "killing" plates on mourning occasions, as a means of dealing with loss. Breaking plates may also be related to the ancient practice of conspicuous consumption, a display of one's wealth, as plates or glasses are thrown into a fireplace following a banquet instead of being washed and reused.
Modern times
In 1969, the military dictatorship of Georgios Papadopoulos, that had suspended democracy and ruled Greece autocratically from 1967 to 1974, banned plate smashing. Nowadays specially-produced plaster plates are used. Another modern variation on the custom is for diners at small Greek restaurants or tavernas to buy trays of flowers that they can throw at singers and each other.
In the Three's Company episode "Opening Night," Larry Dallas invites his family, visiting from Greece, to Jacks Bistro. The large family gathering ends with the Greek celebratory custom of the breaking of plates. Reluctant at first because of all the money it will cost to replace the plates, Jack joins in the celebration when Larry says they will cover the bill for each plate. Jack then looks at Janet who shows him the final cost of all the plates that were broken. Jack, while clenching the remaining two plates he owns, throws them up in the air and says "Opa!" and lets them break as well.
In Part I of The Love Boat S6 E18 episode titled: "," Gopher initiates plate smashing in a Greek restaurant.
In the Frasier episode "Beware of Greeks,", Frasier's Greek cousin is getting married and his cousin's mother smashes plates at the wedding reception.
In the Perfect Strangers episode "Grandpa", several plates are being smashed during the last scene of the episode in the course of a celebration taking place in a Greek restaurant.
The 2009 Australian stop motion animated dark comedy filmMary and Max features a plate smashing scene.
In Packed to the Rafters, episode 4.1, the character Nick 'Carbo' Karandonis and his fiancée have an engagement party which includes smashing plaster plates and the mistaken smashing of porcelain plates.
In Come Dine with Me Canada, episode 2.16, the evening ended with plate smashing "in keeping with the Greek ritual."
In Kitchen Cabinet, episode 2.3, independent Australian Senator Nick Xenophon and host Annabel Crabb end a dinner discussion at a Greek "yiros" restaurant with an impromptu plate smashing.
In Friday Night Dinner, episode 2.6, the character Jim smashes a plate believing it to be a Jewish tradition.
