According to CNN, every New Year's Eve, Spaniards gather at Puerta del Sol Square in Madrid to welcome the new year together.
The joyful and jubilant scene was recorded and broadcast live on Spanish media channels.
Those present in the square and those watching at home all participate in a special traditional ritual during the countdown. They will eat a grape for each chime of the clock signaling the transition between the old year and the new year.
As part of the tradition, participants are required to eat 12 grapes, regardless of type, before the clock strikes 12:01. To ensure they can quickly eat enough grapes, many even peel and seed them beforehand.
Twelve grapes represent each month of the year and according to tradition, if all twelve are eaten at the stroke of midnight, the person will have good luck throughout the new year.
The custom is known locally as “uvas de la suerte,” which means “lucky grapes.” The origins of the ritual may be unclear, but according to CBS, the custom was invented by grape growers in southern Spain in the early 20th century when they had a bumper harvest. Over time, the tradition spread to many Spanish-speaking countries.
CBS also reported that eating grapes under the table at the moment of New Year's Eve is not part of the traditional Spanish ritual. This may be a new variation in the hope of ending the single life of the participants.
In 2022, TikTok user @helengmorales (formerly @helenguillen) posted a video sharing how she was proposed to after eating grapes under the table at the moment of transition from the old year to the new year.
