New year traditions in spain
New Year celebration is almost here! Let me share with you one of the ways we, Spanish, welcome the New Year — with Las Doce Uvas or in English, 12 Grapes. 🍇
How Do New Year Traditions in Spain Work?
🕰️ On the 31st of December, people across the country gather around their TV screens or in public squares (normally in front of a church or important building) to countdown until midnight, with 12 grapes in our hands as we listen to the bells chiming 🔔
Before the clock strikes 12:00, we eat 12 grapes; one for every stroke of the clock. Keep reading, I am giving you some good tips to achieve the challenge successfully!
What Is The Spanish New Year Grapes Tradition? And Why 12?
It is believed that eating 12 grapes before the final stroke of midnight will bring good luck and prosperity for the year, with the grapes representing the 12 months of the year 🍀
Who doesn’t want to start the year filled with hope and positivity, right?
Eating the twelve grapes in good time is actually harder than it looks! It can be quite a challenge for slow eaters like me.
💡 Tips to achieve the goal of eating 12 Grapes in 12 seconds:
- Be Prepared: Be sure to have your grapes ready to go before the countdown begins. In some supermarkets you can even buy them peeled!
- Seedless Grapes: To avoid any unexpected interruptions get seedless grapes. Thank me later!
- Practice Makes Perfect: Some people even practice the art of grape eating the days before New Year’s Eve to get into a festive competitive mood.
What’s great about this tradition is that everyone, even those who hate grapes, can still do it! I’ve seen people eating olives, peanuts or even crisps, so pick your favourite and be ready for December 31! 😁
P.S. If you enjoy learning about Spanish traditions and culture, click here to have a look at my blog.
¡Hasta pronto!
Anna
