Quick answer: On New Year’s Eve (Nochevieja) in Spain you eat twelve grapes, one with each chime of the clock at midnight, for luck in the new year. Most of us watch the clock of the Puerta del Sol in Madrid on TV. Buy seedless grapes, peel them if you like, count out twelve per person, and start with the first of the twelve strokes, not with the quarter chimes that come before. Eating them under the table is a social-media trend, not a Spanish custom.
The twelve grapes are the one New Year’s Eve tradition everyone in Spain does, from kids to grandparents. It is also the one that goes wrong the first time you try it, because twelve grapes in twelve chimes are fewer seconds than you think. Here is how it works, how to prepare, and what we put on the table around it.
What are the 12 grapes at midnight?
Las doce uvas de la suerte (the twelve grapes of luck) are eaten in the last seconds of December 31. You eat one grape for each chime of the clock, twelve in all, and each grape stands for a month of the coming year. If you manage all twelve, the year is supposed to go well.
The clock everyone watches is the one on the Real Casa de Correos in the Puerta del Sol, in Madrid. In Spain, the national TV channels broadcast it live, so the whole country is eating grapes in front of the same clock at the same moment. Accounts of how the custom began differ, so I will not give you a date. What I can tell you is that it is a shared midnight ritual, in the living room with the family more than in the street.
How do you eat 12 grapes in 12 seconds?
Preparation does it, not speed.
- Choose seedless grapes. The seeds are what slow you down and what makes people choke.
- Count twelve per person and put them in a small bowl or cup, one for each guest, before the countdown. Nobody should be going to the kitchen at 11:58.
- Peel them, if you want. Many families do, especially with kids or older guests. It takes a little time, so do it before dinner. Smaller grapes are easier than big ones.
- Wait for the right sound. Before the twelve strokes, the clock rings the cuartos (the quarter chimes), a few short bell phrases that confuse everyone who hears them the first time. They are not the twelve. When the slow, clear strokes begin, you eat the first grape.
- One grape per stroke, and do not rush. Chew while you wait for the next. If you fall behind, keep going: nobody counts, and the year will be fine.
What is the red underwear tradition?
In Spain many people wear something red on New Year’s Eve, and underwear is the classic: red underwear for luck and, they say, for love in the new year. It is a bit of fun, nobody checks, and it goes well with the grapes.
Is eating the grapes under the table a Spanish tradition?
No. Eating them under the table so you travel more that year is a trend that went around social media. In Spain we eat them at the table, standing or sitting, and nobody goes under it. If you like the idea, nothing bad happens: it is a fun twist for a party. Just know that it is not what we do in Madrid.
What do Spaniards eat on New Year’s Eve?
It depends on the family and the region, but the dinner (la cena de Nochevieja) is usually a festive one, a lot like Nochebuena a week earlier: shared dishes at the center, seafood, something roasted, and sweets. The picoteo (grazing) at the start is where jamón, embutidos and cheese go, with a plate of olives and some bread. The grapes close the evening, and then comes the party.
Here is how to do it at home in the US. Whatever travels cold is marked Florida only; the rest ships anywhere in the US except Alaska and Hawaii.
| Moment | What goes on the table | From us |
|---|---|---|
| Picoteo to start (nationwide) | Chorizo, olives, picos | Goikoa mini chorizo bites ($9.95), Jolca olives stuffed with piquillo pepper ($6.95), Obando picos ($7.95) |
| Jamón for the picoteo (Florida only) | Ham in slices | Cortijo de Canata Serrano plate, 3.5 oz ($14.95), Cinco Jotas hand-carved slices, 3 oz ($64.95) |
| A whole leg for the party (nationwide) | Carve it yourself | Serrano Ham Starter Kit with Stand & Knife ($289) |
| A table already set (Florida only) | A ready-made tapas spread | Spanish Christmas Tapas Box with Ibérico Ham & Olive Oil ($149) |
| Seafood from a tin (nationwide) | Mussels, cockles, zamburiñas | Paco Lafuente mussels in escabeche ($10.95), Paco Lafuente cockles ($14.95), Cambados zamburiñas ($12.95) |
| Sweets at the end (nationwide) | Turrón | Alemany Soft Jijona Turrón, 10.6 oz ($24.95), El Señor de los Jamones Turrón de Alicante ($19.95) |
At home, as at Christmas, there is jamón and turrón on the table, and the picoteo is the first thing people reach for. Cava or wine on the side is the custom in many Spanish homes; you will pick yours at your local shop, since we do not sell alcohol.
Outside Florida, build the picoteo from the nationwide rows: chorizo, olives, picos, a few tins and turrón, or carve a whole ham. Our orders leave Florida in 1 to 2 business days (see the shipping policy). For more of the season, see our Spanish Christmas food guide.
Where do you buy the grapes?
At your regular supermarket. We do not sell grapes. Buy a small bunch of seedless ones a day or two before and keep them in the fridge, then take them out half an hour before midnight so they are not ice cold.
FAQ
Why do Spaniards eat 12 grapes on New Year’s Eve?
For luck in the new year. One grape for each chime of the clock at midnight, twelve in all, one for every month.
What time do you eat the 12 grapes?
At midnight, with the twelve strokes of the clock. Start with the first stroke after the cuartos, the quarter chimes that ring just before.
How do you eat 12 grapes in 12 seconds?
Use seedless grapes, peel them if you can, count out twelve per person in a bowl beforehand, and chew one grape per stroke. If you fall behind, keep going.
Do I need to peel the grapes?
No, but many Spanish families do, because skinless grapes go down easier. It helps with kids.
Is eating the grapes under the table Spanish?
No. It is a recent trend on social media. In Spain the grapes are eaten at the table.
What should I wear for New Year’s Eve in Spain?
Something red, if you want to follow the custom. Red underwear is the classic.
What can I serve with the grapes?
Whatever you would serve at a party: jamón, embutidos, cheese and olives to start, seafood from a tin, and turrón to finish.
