Feliz Año Nuevo

 

Bienvenidos a los clases de Español 2025

Four common New Year's traditions in Spain

1. Eating 12 Grapes

Perhaps the most common New Year’s tradition in Spain is eating 12 grapes on the 12 chimes before midnight.  

If you manage to eat them all in time, Spaniards believe you’ll have a lucky and healthy new year.

 It’s harder than it looks though! Especially if you’re trying not to laugh at everyone else’s hamster cheeks.

In the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, you’ll see huge amounts of grapes in every supermarket. 

Some sell special packets of 12 grapes, and you’ll also find peeled grapes for kids (or first-time adults) which are easier to swallow.

No one is 100% sure where this tradition comes from, but there are possibilities. The first is that wine growers in the Alicante region of Spain had a particularly bountiful harvest in the late 1800s. To encourage people to buy more grapes, they made an advertising campaign to eat grapes for luck on New Year’s Eve. From then on, the tradition stuck and spread to almost every region of the country!

2. Drink Cava

Cava is a sparkling wine originally from Catalonia. It’s light and refreshing and something that almost all alcohol drinkers enjoy on New Year’s Eve. 

There are more and more alcohol-free versions of the drink, too!

If you go to someone’s house on New Year’s Eve, it’s customary to bring some cava to enjoy together.

Likewise, if you go to one of the street celebrations in a square, you’ll hear bottles popping all over the place as the bells chime at midnight.

3. Wear Red Underwear

If you’re hoping for Cupid’s arrow to hit you in the upcoming year, then it’s tradition to wear red underwear on New Year’s in Spain.

 It’s thought that the romantic colour will help you to find love!

4. Start The Year on the Right Foot

Another ‘lucky’ New Year’s tradition in Spain is starting the year on the right foot. Quite literally. When eating your grapes, you should have your right foot forward, ensuring you’re looking toward the next year with hope and positivity.