Meaning of 12 grapes for new years: Twelve Grapes – Gastro Obscura
The 12 grapes New Years Eve ritual explained
Indy100 logo
Newsletter sign up
Register/Sign in
New Year’s Traditions From Around the World
Money Talks News / VideoElephant
As the New Year approaches, different cultural traditions to bring good luck for the year ahead have been going viral on TikTok – and one of them includes eating grapes.
The term “12 grapes at midnight” has become a popular search term on the platform as people are keen to hear where this tradition originates from and what it’s all about.
Latina content creator, Cassie (@smallbizcassie) went viral with a whopping 7m views for her explanation of the New Year grape tradition.
Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter
“Eating 12 grapes at midnight is said to bring good luck for the New Year. I learned this tradition while living in Mexico,” the on-screen text read.
“You’re supposed to make 12 wishes after each one & it’s like speaking it into existence,” one commenter wrote.
To which Cassie agreed and added: “I’ve heard that! They do it different everywhere & some regions even eat raisins instead of grapes, which is way easier.”
@smallbizcassie
Go get some grapes and add this to your New Years Eve celebrations!🍇🥂🎉 #newyearseve #nye #countdownto2023 #happy2023 #nyetradition #newyearseve2022 #TasselAmor
Meanwhile, Erika Batista (@byerikabatistaone) also went viral with 500,000 views as she detailed that the tradition would need to go under the table at 11:58 pm on New Year’s Eve and eat 12 grapes until 12:01 am on New Year’s Day.
The grape tradition appears to originate from Spain where they kick the New Year off by eating 12 grapes (one for each month) with each of the twelve clock bell strikes and “each grape represents a wish for each of the months of the coming year,” according to National Geographic.
Many may recognise the tradition after it was mentioned in the ABC sitcom Modern Familywhere in season four episode 11 called “New Year’s Eve” Gloria (Sofia Vergara) said she required 12 grapes for the midnight ritual.
She told her husband Jay (Ed O’Neill), each of the 12 grapes represents a wish she plans to make and believes her nice and successful life is down to her doing the tradition every year.
“Five years ago, I was a single mother living in a slum. Today, I’m driving to Palm Springs in my new car with my rich husband. You do what you want. I’m eating the grapes,” Gloria tells her husband.
But when did this tradition begin?
Well, there are two theories – the first being that it dates back to 1909 when it was apparently a great grape harvest that year and producers sold packs of 12 of them as “lucky grapes.”
However, National Geographic highlights that the tradition is mentioned in newspapers from 1882 and in those times the middle class used to drink champagne and eat grapes during their New Year’s Eve dinner.
The working class scoffed grapes in La Puerta del Sol as the bells rang in an act of rebellion against a tax imposed in 1882 by José Abascal y Carredano, the mayor of Madrid, and this move was also to mock bourgeoise dining habits, according to The Local ES.
There are slight differentiations to the tradition, depending on the country – for example, in Peru people sit under the table while eating the grapes as per Savoured JourneysandHuffington Post.
Consuming 12 grapes in quick succession is no easy feat, as medical professionals have warned about the choking risk and recommended seedless, skinless grapes.
We’ll have to wait and see if 2023 brings good luck for those who decided to wolf down 12 grapes on New Year but there are also other New Year traditions from around the world such as wearing red.
Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
Please log in or register to upvote this article
Woman Shares How Eating ’12 Grapes’ on New Year’s Eve Changed Her Life
On the Internet
By
Soo Kim
On the Internet
Love
Relationships
New year
Traditions
A video shared by a woman who is “happier than ever” after carrying out the “12 grapes” New Year’s Eve ritual has gone viral on TikTok, where it got 5.3 million views at the time of writing.
The tradition entails sitting under a table on New Year’s Eve and consuming 12 grapes (which symbolize the 12 months of the year) just minutes before the clock strikes 12 in hopes to “attract love” in the New Year, as noted in a video shared by TikToker user @vaatsaly.c, who said the ritual (along with wearing something red while eating the grapes) is “very common in the Hispanic community.”
A stock image of a couple kissing behind a heart-shaped balloon.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
The latest viral clip, posted by TikTok user @lolkarli, shows a woman appearing to eat some grapes from a cup while sitting under a table. A message overlaid on the video read: “Last year I ate my 12 grapes under [the] table…”
A subsequent message overlaid on the clip read: “Well, it worked lol [red heart emoji],” before the video showed a man standing with a sign with Spanish words saying “Quieres ser mi novia?” which means “Will you be my girlfriend?”
The video later shows the woman being embraced and twirled around by a man.
@lolkarli
Happier than ever ❤️ 😭 #eatinggrapesunderthetable #newyears #relationship #grapes #love #couple #underthetable #12grapes #felizañonuevo
♬ Eenie Meenie (Radio Version) – Sean Kingston & Justin Bieber
It’s not surprising that people are going to creative lengths, such as the 12 grapes ritual, in an attempt to find love.
According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in October 2019, among the 15 percent of adults in the U.S. who are single and looking for a committed relationship or casual dates, “most say they are dissatisfied with their dating lives and that it has been difficult to find people to date.”
However, the survey found that “most single people (including both those on and off the dating market) say they don’t feel a lot of pressure to find a partner from their friends, family or society in general.”
Around two in 10 people (22 percent) said they feel “at least some pressure from friends,” while 31 percent said the same about family members and 37 percent said they feel “society is pressuring them.”
Where Did the ’12 Grapes’ New Year’s Eve Tradition Come From?
According to a 2012 NPR article by Jeff Koehler, a Barcelona-based author of several cookbooks, the ritual stems from Spain, where on the last day of the year, residents gather either in front of televisions or in town squares, holding a bowl of green grapes and wearing red underwear.
A stock image of a person holding up a platter of red grapes.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
A series of 12 bell chimes are heard from the clock tower of the 18th-century Real Casa de Correos building in Madrid and you’re meant to eat one grape for each chime. Consuming all 12 grapes by the end of the final chime is believed to bring you good luck in the new year, Koehler explained.
The exact origins of this tradition are unknown, but it may have begun decades earlier in the 1880s, according to old newspaper articles, the author said.
Koehler said: “These stories tell of bourgeoisie in Madrid copying the French tradition of having grapes and champagne on the last day of the year.
“Before long this custom had been adopted by certain madrileños who went to Puerta del Sol to see the bells chime at the turning of the year and, most likely in an ironic or mocking manner, to eat grapes like the upper class.”
The latest tradition has inspired users on TikTok looking for love who say they’ll give the ritual a go this year.
In a comment that got over 6,000 likes, user Sky said: “Okay will definitely gonna eat 12 grapes under the table [crying laughing emoji].”
User unknown wrote: “I don’t like grapes but I’m desperate to do this [crying laughing emojis].”
User idk hi<3 said: “We need a huge party with thousands of tables where everyone is under one eating grapes lol [laugh out loud].”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment. This video has not been independently verified.
Do you have any unusual New Year’s Eve rituals? Let us know via [email protected] and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Request Reprint & Licensing, Submit Correction or view Editorial Guidelines
New Year’s Eve in Spain
Travel Safe
Travel Safety Tips
Latest news
New Year’s Eve at the Puerta del Sol in Madrid
none
New Year’s Eve in Spain
On December 31, a special holiday is celebrated in Spain, when fun and entertainment continue until the morning.
If you want to have a great start to the new year, celebrate its coming in our country. To get started, you should eat the traditional 12 grapes for luck… And then the fun begins! nine0003
Go to my bookmarks
Do you want to know how the New Year is celebrated in Spain? Twelve grapes for good luck . According to tradition, they must be eaten one at a time, to the sound of the chimes, which marks the onset of midnight on December 31st. The one who manages to eat all the grapes on time will be happy and prosperous in the new year. Even if you don’t believe in magic, try this custom and you’ll see that it’s a lot of fun. Grapes are the most long-awaited moment of the new year. The live broadcast of the chiming clock can be seen on TV throughout Spain. On this day, its inhabitants usually meet with family or friends to enjoy a delicious dinner and then eat twelve grapes. In many localities, residents gather in the square or in some popular place where there is a clock to eat grapes and spend the last minutes of the year together.
If you would like to participate in this event, please contact the tourism office in your locality for more information. nine0003
Glass with twelve grapes for New Year’s Eve
Chimes in the Puerta del Sol
The most famous place in Spain associated with this tradition is undoubtedly the Puerta del Sol in Madrid. Thousands of people gather on New Year’s Eve in front of its chimes to celebrate the coming of the new year, which turns into a big collective holiday. A wonderful atmosphere reigns here: confetti, music and streamers, people in wigs, funny hats or masks and general fun. After twelve grapes comes a real explosion of joy. Champagne bottles are opened and toasts are made to friends, family and everyone around. Laughter, jokes, congratulations… And this is just the beginning, because you are waiting for long hours of entertainment. You will see that it is simply impossible not to get infected with this fun. nine0003
Puerta del Sol in Madrid and illuminated Christmas tree
Helpful Hints
The streets fill with groups of young people, music and cars honking to welcome the new year.
In bars, pubs and discos New Year holidays are being prepared, where you can dance until the morning. Many hotels and restaurants also organize parties that include dinner, grapes, dancing and entertainment. If you decide to choose one of these options, we recommend that you purchase an entrance ticket or book a table in advance.Regarding public transport , please note that on public holidays the schedule of its operation changes. For example, on the night of December 31, buses and subways close earlier than usual, and on the morning of January 1, they start working later. In addition, if you need taxi services that night, it is better to book a taxi in advance by phone, as demand for these services increases significantly at this time.
Festive sparklers
How long does the celebration of the New Year last? As many as you want. At the end of the holiday, before going to bed, we recommend that you recuperate with the help of traditional hot chocolate with churros .
You will like it very much! The next day, the first day of the new year , you can rest easy, because the shops are closed, and only some bars and restaurants are open. A walk in the park or a visit to the cinema are great for this day. Do you want to celebrate the New Year in a unique way? Come to Spain to eat twelve grapes for good luck. It will be an unforgettable holiday.
Learn more about…
Things to do
Ideas to inspire you
Calendar of events
Five gifts for Christmas in Spain
Calendar of events
The best sports events in Spain for car fans
Calendar of events
Enjoy the music in Barcelona: the best festivals of the summer
Additional information
Signs for celebrating a happy New Year in Russia and abroad
New Year’s Eve
On the night of December 31st to January 1st, perhaps, the most important holiday falls — the New Year.
In Russia, it is difficult to imagine it without a Christmas tree, Russian salad, tangerines and a cork flying out of a bottle of champagne to the sound of chimes. This tradition is the most widespread in the post-Soviet space. However, in each country there are other interesting features of the New Year’s Eve, which may also be to the taste of the Russians. nine0003
Getting rid of excess in Italy and Argentina
In the most temperamental country of the Apennine Peninsula, it is customary to get rid of everything superfluous on New Year’s Eve. Hot Italians were so brutal that they threw all unnecessary things right out of the window. In the Middle Ages, mountains of rubbish could be seen on the streets of Italian cities. Today, for such daring acts, you can get a substantial fine, so instead of unnecessary things, confetti and cut pieces of wrapping paper are now thrown out of the windows. But, despite this, a chair flying out of a neighbor or an old vacuum cleaner on this night is still very few people.
nine0003
This tradition (but in a less scandalous way) also migrated to Argentina, where a large number of descendants of Italians live. Unlike their ancestors, Argentines throw calendars, receipts, stationery and old letters received throughout the year into the street.
Photo © Shutterstock
In Greek, everything in the house
As you know, Greece has everything. Unlike their Mediterranean neighbors, the thrifty Greeks, on the contrary, take everything into the house. So, in addition to traditional gifts, a thrifty Greek will pick up a large cobblestone along the way and put it at the entrance to the house of the hosts whom he is visiting. The amount of luck in the coming year directly depends on the size of the stone. If, on the way, a large stone was not found, then the Greeks will bring a small one, wishing that the difficulties and failures of the owners in the coming year would be just as small and light. nine0003
12 grapes – 12 wishes
Unlike our compatriots who burn a piece of paper with a wish and then drink champagne with ashes, residents of Spain and some Latin American countries act differently.
An old Spanish tradition has taken root there: during the time that the clock strikes twelve, you must have time to eat 12 grapes. For every stroke of the clock, there is not only one berry, but one wish. To guarantee yourself good luck in the New Year, you need to have time to eat the whole handful.
Photo © Shutterstock
Japan’s last tea party
On December 31st, the Japanese celebrate a farewell tea ceremony. This holiday is called Zeuyagama and literally means “Last Kettle Boiling Day” (the celebration of farewell boiling of the teapot in the outgoing year). The last tea party on New Year’s Eve can be a good alternative for those who like to go to bed early. In addition to black tea, you can choose dark or light oolong, white tea, hibiscus, rooibos or puer. If you want to give the tea party an oriental flavor, then before the New Year you can go to one of the tea houses, where the tea ceremony will be held in accordance with all the rules. nine0003
Chinese lanterns and water pouring
Orientalists can borrow traditions from the Thais or Chinese.
So, instead of the usual Christmas tree in the house, you can put the Tree of Light, as is customary in China. You can also decorate the house with Chinese lanterns and serve Peking duck on the table. Fans of the Thai version of the New Year’s Eve, where it is customary to douse with water as a sign of purification, can go to a spa, bath or water park.
Photo © Shutterstock
Broken dishes for good luck
Like in Russia, breaking dishes for good luck is a very common tradition in Denmark for the New Year. True, the dishes are not beaten in the house, but on the door of neighbors or friends. By the number of fragments, they judge the number of well-wishers and friends, and also consider how much luck the next year will bring.
Modest’s Day
In the Orthodox tradition, on December 31 (December 18, according to the old style), it is customary to honor Modest of Jerusalem. This Orthodox saint took monastic vows at an early age and subsequently, for his zeal, was appointed rector of the monastery of Theodosius the Great in Palestine.