Eating 12 grapes on New Year’s Eve
The Spanish Tradition of 12 Grapes on New Year’s Eve
A Delicious Tradition for Good Luck. Picture this: it’s almost midnight on 31 December. Across Spain, families and friends are gathered around the table with a glass of cava and exactly twelve grapes each. On television, the famous clock at Puerta del Sol in Madrid appears, and everyone eagerly waits for the first chime.
And then it begins: twelve chimes, twelve grapes and usually plenty of laughter!
In Spain, eating twelve grapes on New Year’s Eve is one of the country’s best-loved traditions. Known as Las doce uvas de la suerte, or the twelve lucky grapes, this unusual ritual is believed to bring good fortune and prosperity throughout the coming year. Each grape represents one month of the new year. But where did this charming Spanish tradition come from? And how on earth do you manage to eat twelve grapes in time with the clock?
Let’s discover the story behind Spain’s famous lucky grapes.
The History of the 12 Lucky Grapes
The origins of this tradition date back to the nineteenth century, although there are several theories about exactly how it began. One popular explanation takes us to Madrid in the 1880s. At the time, wealthy Spanish families enjoyed celebrating the festive season with champagne and grapes, a custom inspired by French high society.
According to the story, ordinary Madrileños decided to imitate this fashionable tradition in a rather playful way. They gathered near the famous clock at Puerta del Sol and began eating grapes as the clock struck midnight. What may have started as a light-hearted reaction to the customs of the upper classes gradually developed into a much-loved New Year’s Eve tradition. Historical newspaper reports confirm that eating lucky grapes was already a familiar custom in Madrid by the late nineteenth century.
Alicante and the Grapes of Good Fortune
In 1909, the tradition gained a rather clever commercial twist. According to another well-known explanation, grape growers in Alicante enjoyed an exceptionally large harvest that year. To encourage sales, they promoted their grapes as uvas de la suerte, lucky grapes to welcome the new year.
The white Aledo grapes grown in the Alicante region became closely associated with the tradition. The promotional campaign is believed to have helped spread the custom throughout Spain, although eating twelve grapes on New Year’s Eve was already established before 1909. Today, it’s difficult to imagine a Spanish New Year’s Eve without those twelve little grapes!
How Do You Eat the 12 Grapes at Midnight?
On New Year’s Eve, twelve grapes are prepared for each person in many Spanish homes and restaurants. When the clock strikes midnight, the challenge is to eat one grape with each of the twelve chimes. According to tradition, if you manage to eat all twelve grapes in time, you’ll enjoy good luck and prosperity during every month of the coming year. But here’s something important: don’t start eating too early! Just before midnight, the famous clock at Puerta del Sol sounds a series of preliminary chimes, known as the cuartos. These don’t count. You should wait until the first of the twelve proper midnight chimes before eating your first grape.
There are approximately three seconds between the chimes, so you have a little more time than you might expect. Even so, eating twelve grapes while trying to keep up with the clock can be surprisingly difficult! And that’s precisely what makes it such a funny and memorable tradition.
Our tip: choose small, seedless grapes. Around New Year’s Eve, many Spanish supermarkets sell special packs containing exactly twelve grapes, ready for the celebration. If young children are joining in, take extra care. Whole grapes are a choking hazard, so prepare them safely by cutting them lengthways into quarters. Children shouldn’t be encouraged to eat grapes against the clock. And if you don’t finish all twelve grapes in time? At least you’ve started the new year with a good laugh!
Red Underwear for a Little Extra Luck
The twelve lucky grapes aren’t the only unusual Spanish New Year’s Eve tradition. There’s another rather amusing custom: wearing red underwear to welcome the new year! According to Spanish folklore, red underwear is believed to bring love, passion and good fortune. That’s why you’ll find shops filled with red lingerie and boxer shorts during the final weeks of December, sometimes beautifully wrapped as little gifts.
And there’s an extra twist. According to some versions of the tradition, the red underwear should be given to you as a present for the magic to work! Whether you believe in its powers or not, it’s certainly a fun part of Spanish New Year’s Eve celebrations. Twelve grapes for good fortune and red underwear for a little extra romance. The Spanish certainly know how to start a new year!
New Year’s Eve Traditions Around the World
Spain isn’t the only country where food and good fortune are closely connected to New Year’s celebrations. In Greece, families traditionally enjoy Vasilopita, a special New Year’s cake containing a hidden coin. Whoever discovers the coin in their slice is believed to receive good luck for the coming year.
In Italy, lentils are often served during the festive celebrations because their coin-like shape symbolises wealth and prosperity. And in several Latin American countries, eating twelve lucky grapes has also become a popular New Year’s Eve tradition.
Different countries, different customs, but one thing in common: everyone hopes for a happy and prosperous new year.
Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Spain
New Year’s Eve, known in Spain as Nochevieja, is an important occasion for family and friends. Many Spanish families celebrate with a special dinner at home, while others head to restaurants offering festive menus and entertainment. As midnight approaches, everyone gets their twelve grapes ready. The famous clock at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol is broadcast live on television, allowing people throughout Spain to join in the tradition.
And when the twelfth grape has been eaten? Glasses of cava are raised and everyone wishes each other: ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! – Happy New Year!
For many people, the celebrations are only just beginning.
New Year’s Eve in Moraira and the Costa Blanca
Here in Moraira and the nearby town of Benissa, New Year’s Eve is also a lovely time to experience Spanish traditions. Some restaurants organise special festive dinners, while families and friends gather to celebrate together. At midnight, the twelve grapes make their appearance, just as they do throughout the rest of Spain. One of the things we love about this tradition is how easily everyone can take part. Even if you’re spending your first New Year’s Eve in Spain, it’s a wonderful way to feel included in the celebrations.
And on New Year’s Day? A peaceful walk along the beach or a relaxed lunch overlooking the Mediterranean is a lovely way to begin the year. For the more adventurous, there may even be an organised New Year’s swim in the sea, depending on the local program. It’s certainly a refreshing start to January! Would you like to learn more about Spanish celebrations? Read our guide to public holidays and traditions in Spain.
Experience a Spanish New Year’s Eve Yourself
Have you ever considered celebrating Christmas and New Year somewhere a little warmer? Moraira offers a lovely combination of festive traditions, a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere and opportunities to enjoy the winter sunshine. At Moraira Holiday Homes, we’ve been helping guests find comfortable holiday villas and apartments in Moraira and the Benissa Costa since 2004. Whether you’re planning a peaceful Christmas holiday or would love to experience the twelve lucky grapes tradition for yourself, we’d be delighted to help.
Discover what makes Christmas and New Year in Moraira so special.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 12 Grapes on New Year’s Eve
Why do Spanish people eat 12 grapes on New Year’s Eve?
In Spain, eating twelve grapes at midnight is believed to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year. Each grape represents one month, and the tradition involves eating one grape with each of the twelve midnight chimes. This famous custom is known as Las doce uvas de la suerte, meaning the twelve lucky grapes.
When exactly should you eat the 12 grapes?
You should begin eating your grapes with the first proper clock chime at midnight. Eat one grape with each of the twelve chimes. At Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, the chimes are spaced approximately three seconds apart. Be careful not to start during the preliminary chimes, known as the cuartos, which sound just before midnight.
Where did the Spanish tradition of 12 grapes originate?
The custom dates back to the nineteenth century and is closely associated with Madrid. One popular explanation suggests that ordinary citizens began eating grapes as a playful imitation of wealthy families. In 1909, grape growers in Alicante are believed to have helped popularise the tradition by promoting grapes as symbols of good luck. Its precise origins remain a subject of historical debate.
What type of grapes do Spanish people eat on New Year’s Eve?
Traditionally, light-coloured table grapes are used, including varieties grown around Alicante. Today, Spanish supermarkets often sell specially prepared packs of twelve grapes during the festive season. Small, seedless grapes are particularly convenient. Whole grapes are a choking hazard for young children, so they should be cut safely into quarters.
Why do some people eat 12 grapes under the table?
Eating twelve grapes under a table has become popular on social media, particularly among people hoping to find love in the new year. However, this isn’t an essential part of the traditional Spanish custom. In Spain, people generally eat their lucky grapes together with family and friends, either at home, in restaurants or during public celebrations.
Where in Spain do people eat the 12 lucky grapes?
The tradition is celebrated throughout Spain, including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and towns along the Costa Blanca such as Moraira. Many people follow the midnight chimes broadcast from Madrid’s Puerta del Sol on television. Others celebrate in restaurants or on public squares. Wherever you are in Spain, the twelve lucky grapes are a wonderful way to welcome the new year.
