Related Posts with Thumbnails

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Grapes: A New Year's Tradition

This piece has been updated from the archives...wishing you all good things in 2015. I hope all of your wishes come true. 


¡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. 

I don't know how the tradition of Spaniards eating grapes came to be on New Year's Eve, but it was marketing genius to associate grape-eating with the end of the year. What better way to rid yourself of extra grapes 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 2015 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 each month of 2015.


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 as the Times Square ball is lowered from its lofty perch, it's tricky to properly space out your grape consumption; however, 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 2015. 


As 2014 is washed away, and 2015 takes its place, what changes will you make to create a better life for yourself? For your family? For our world?

Get some grapes and start a new New Year's tradition. 

Happy New Year, friends. ¡Feliz Año Nuevo


Wishing you much joy in 2015 and always.

¡Salud!

22 comments:

  1. I've never heard of this one! Haha! Very cute!

    ReplyDelete
  2. We do it every year. In fact, soon, I am off to BJ's to get grapes for those who will be with us tonight. I will take all the wishes I can get. :-) Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tom's grandmother does this, and since we're hosting this year I'm putting some out. Won't be eating then in one minute though :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love this tradition! We started doing this a few years ago, and I agree with you--it is tricky! Have a wonderful new year!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is so cool! I've never heard of this tradition before. Now I need to run to the store to restock my grapes! Hope you have a happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is such a lovely tradition, if I had some grapes I would totally do it! I hope you have a lovely new year and 2015 :) x

    Jasmin Charlotte | UK Lifestyle Blog

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a great tradition.

    Cheers! Happy New Year! Here's to a wonderful 2015.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Peggy Gilbey McMackinDecember 31, 2014 at 2:30 PM

    Dear Kelly, readying for the evening, but wanted to say: Happy New Year! Wishing you good health, happiness, and success in the year ahead. Thanks for your inspiration too. Hugs and Love, Peggy Happy New Year 2015!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you, Jasmin! Happy New Year to you! Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you, Karen. I ran to BJ's, so now I have plenty for anyone who stops by. Cheers and happy 2015!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Well, it's only 12, so it's not too bad...one every 5 seconds, right? Happy New Year, Farin. I hope all of your wishes come true.

    ReplyDelete
  12. In Chile we did this too! It totally slipped my mind! Can't wait to do it!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm fairly new to this tradition, but it has become something I look forward to every year. Happy New Year, Valerie!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy New Year, Peggy! Thank you so much. Wishing you all good things in 2015, and always. Hugs and love to you. Happy 2015.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a great tradition! I missed it this year, but love the notion! Happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I recently read an article about Spanish New Year's traditions and it commented on how the grape-eating tradition may have come to be! Take a look: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/12/26/168092673/green-grapes-and-red-underwear-a-spanish-new-years-eve

    ReplyDelete
  17. That is such a fun tradition. I love the idea of being able to make some fresh wishes for the new year!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Happy New Year to you, Nancy! Wishing you all good things in 2015 and always!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm new to it, but I have really come to enjoy this tradition. And who doesn't need twelve wishes?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks, Ashley! That's great! I know what to ask hubs for for Christmas 2015...and what I need to get him. ¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

    ReplyDelete