12 Grapes on New Year's Eve

It’s that time of the year. Time for new beginnings and a new year.

I have always been a huge fan of New Years Eve. Not because of the big parties or the romantic kiss at the stroke of midnight. It’s something much bigger than that. I love the idea of a new year, a fresh start and the excitement of the many surprises and twists that await you throughout the new year. One of my favorite things to do on New Years is the 12 Grapes New Years Eve Tradition.

The 12 Grapes New Years Eve Tradition is associated with eating 12 grapes, one to represent each month of the new year, during the final 12 seconds of the outgoing year. The idea is to get all the grapes in your mouth and swallowed by the time the clock strikes midnight. The 12 grapes are meant to bring 12 months of good luck if successfully eaten.

The 12 Grapes New Years Eve Tradition is common in Spain and other spanish-speaking countries. Each region has their own variation of the New Years Eve grape tradition. In some parts they eat seven grapes while other areas only eat five. I like idea of eating 12 grapes to correspond with the 12 months of the year. Typically, I prepare 12 grapes for each family member prior to midnight. I then pass out small bowls of grapes to each family member and just before the clock strikes midnight, I pour champagne for the adults and sparkling cider for the kids. Once all the grapes are eaten we toast to the new year and kiss and hug one another.

The 12 Grapes New Years Eve Tradition is a wonderful way to involve the entire family in welcoming in the new year and the kids most certainly get a kick out of watching the adults shove grapes in their mouths. Be mindful of younger children participating in the 12 Grapes New Years Eve Tradition as grapes can be a choking hazard. For safety reasons I try to give the kids a little head start so they can participate in the fun while minimizing their risk.