If you celebrate New Year’s Eve in Spain, you’ll quickly notice a unique tradition: eating twelve grapes at midnight, one for each chime of the clock. This fun and slightly chaotic ritual is one of the most iconic moments of Spanish culture, and if you’re in Barcelona for New Year’s Eve, you’ve got to make sure you try it.

What Are “Las 12 Uvas de la Suerte”?

The tradition is known as  “las 12 uvas de la suerte” which translates to “the 12 grapes of luck.”

People believe that eating all twelve grapes — one for each month of the year — brings good luck, health and prosperity in the year to come. Some people even go as far as making one wish per grape they eat!

Where Does the Tradition Come From?

The origins, like many historical facts, combine popular habits of the wealthy and smart marketing aimed at regular folks:

  • In the late 1800s, wealthy families in Madrid began eating grapes with champagne on New Year’s Eve.
  • In 1909, grape growers had a huge harvest and, in order to sell all the produce before it went bad, promoted the idea of eating twelve grapes for luck, regardless of socioeconomic status.
  • Since then, the tradition has spread nationwide and worldwide, with millions of Spaniards watching the countdown from Puerta del Sol on TV every year, and even more millions eating their lucky grapes in countries like México, Colombia, The Philippines, and the USA, where hispanic communities make sure to keep the tradition alive.

How the Ritual Works

At midnight, when the clock hits 12 o’clock, the first twelve seconds of the year are crucial. A bell is rung, one time per each second of the clock, and during the twelve chimes, people rush to eat one grape per second.

It’s fast, funny and always a little messy — but finishing all grapes on time is considered a sign of good luck.

Afterwards, families toast with cava and wish each other: “¡Feliz Año Nuevo!”

New Year’s Eve in Catalonia

In Catalonia, the tradition is the same, but celebrations often include:

  • Family dinner for “Nit de Cap d’Any”
  • A toast with Catalan cava from the Penedès wine region
  • Music and a fireworks and drone show at Plaça d’Espanya
  • Check out the video on the right to see a snippet of last year’s amazing fireworks and drone show in Barcelona

And of course, both in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, one mustn’t forget wearing red underwear for New Year’s Eve! Did you know about that?

Learn more about Spanish and Hispanic culture in a real setting

The tradition of the twelve grapes is a joyful and meaningful way to welcome the new year. Would you like to learn more about Spanish and Hispanic culture while improving your Spanish?

Join our courses at C2 Barcelona — communicative, cultural and designed to help you use Spanish confidently in real life.

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!