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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Happy New Year! Now, where are the grapes?

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Happy New Year!

No doubt about it, Spain has great wine! And when you're a winemaker, there's bound to be a surplus crop at times. How the tradition of Spaniards eating grapes came to be on New Year's Eve, I'm sure that I don't know, but it was marketing genius to associate grape eating with the strokes ushering out the end of the year. What better way to rid yourself of extras and guarantee the need for fruit late into the season.

If we were in Spain tonight, we certainly would be readying ourselves to celebrate the birth of 2014 with twelve grapes, the tradition of Las doce uvas de la suerte or The Twelve Grapes of Luck. From our home here in New England, we have our grapes ready to go...each of the twelve, ready for our wishes, hopes and dreams for 2014.

With each chime of midnight (based on the clock tower in Puerta del Sol in Madrid, near Kilometre Zero, the center of Spain), Spaniards eat one grape with the beat of each bell. This is said to promise good luck into the new year.

Here in the States, where time is counted in seconds while the Times Square ball is lowered from its lofty perch, it's tough to properly space out your grape consumption, but as long as you eat your last grape before 12:01, you should be in good standing for the new year.  

Think about your twelve wishes. Are they for you? For your family? For the world? Visualize your perfect 2014.



As 2013 is washed away, and 2014 takes its place, what changes will you make to create a better life for yourself? For your family? For our world?

It really is a clean slate. As 2014 is born, we have a new moon. This hasn't happened in nineteen years. It truly is a fresh start. What will you do with your fresh start?

Happy New Year, friends. ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Wishing you much joy in 2014 and always.

Muchos besos.

6 comments:

  1. I loved learning about your tradition. Stopping by from the blog hop.

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    1. Thank you so much! Happy New Year! I hope you visit again soon. Cheers!

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  2. That is such an amazing tradition. I will be certain to make my 12 wishes and eat my grapes. Happy New Year!

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    1. Happy New Year, Kerry! I hope you have had a fabulous New Year! Looking forward to following your journey in 2014. Please visit again soon. Cheers!

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  3. I love grapes and I love wishes! Great idea. Happy New Year!

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    1. Happy New Year, Annabel! Wishing you all the best in 2014 and always! Cheers!

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