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Eating Grapes On New Year's Eve: Why Is This Spanish Tradition Going Viral?

The modern iterations of the ‘twelve grapes' Spanish tradition include sitting under a table while eating the grapes, which has caught the attention of netizens worldwide.

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Khushi Dwivedi
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Grapes Eating Tradition

Photograph: (Fresh Plaza)

As the year comes to an end, Instagram reels are buzzing with a quirky tradition—eating grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. This viral ritual involves consuming exactly 12 grapes, representing the 12 months of the year, in hopes of attracting good fortune and, for some, a lucky love life.

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The ‘twelve grapes’ or ‘Las doce uvas de la suerte’ is a Spanish tradition. Adding a playful twist, modern iterations of this tradition include sitting under a table while eating the grapes, which has caught the attention of netizens worldwide. While the original custom simply focuses on eating the grapes at each stroke of midnight, newer versions introduce fun elements like wearing red innerwear for extra good luck. 

While each grape represents a wish for the 12 months ahead, you must finish eating all 12 grapes before the clock strikes 12:01, or else the wishes won’t come true. 

Origin Of This Spanish Tradition

Marcelino Lominchar, author of Historias de la historia de España explained, "In the mid-19th century, Spain’s aristocracy adopted a French holiday tradition of drinking champagne and eating grapes, a luxury only the wealthy could afford. By 1894, even Prime Minister Cánovas del Castillo was reported to have marked the end of the year this way. Meanwhile, the public had a different custom, a rather rowdier one.

On January 5, they would cause a commotion demanding gifts from the Three Wise Men and in the process, get drunk. However, in 1896, Madrid’s mayor introduced hefty fines to stop the disturbances. In response, people moved their celebrations to New Year’s Eve and started eating grapes during the clock chimes at Puerta del Sol, creating what we now know as the ‘12 lucky grapes’ tradition." 

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This tradition is also widely popular in Latin America. While under-the-table tradition seems to originate from TikTok, the experts link it to a Latin American superstition of staying protected while seeking love. There aren't many specifications around the type of grape that should be consumed. However, seedless grapes seem a popular choice as they pose less threat towards a potential choking hazard. 

Some people also like substituting grapes for olives, candies, or raisins. While the fruit is not specific, the timing and number taken are very specific. 

Whether traditional or modernised, this grape-eating ritual became a popular way to ring in the New Year. Have you tried this ritual yet?

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