Countdown to the New Year in Spain

Did you ever wonder what Spaniards do as the equivalent to watching the ball drop over Times Square on New Year’s Eve?

Neither did we — but it turns out it’s pretty quirky and multi-generational.

As the clock counts down to midnight, you eat a grape during each of the last twelve chimes…one for each month of the coming year for good luck. The history of the tradition is a bit cloudy, but apparently it has been going on for nearly 150 years.

Here’s a very short look at “Las doce uvas” (the twelve grapes), one of the most endearing local customs (and you don’t need to understand Spanish to appreciate its charm).

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