At midnight in Spain, people traditionally eat twelve grapes, one with each clock chime.
The custom is known as the twelve grapes of luck. Each grape represents one month of the coming year, and successfully eating all twelve during the chimes is associated with prosperity and good fortune. Families and friends often watch a televised clock, especially the clock at Madrid's Puerta del Sol.
The ritual became widely popular in Spain during the early twentieth century. A commonly repeated account connects its spread with a surplus grape harvest and promotional efforts by grape growers, although the practice also developed from earlier elite and urban customs. The exact origin is discussed in historical accounts.
The grapes are usually prepared in advance because the chimes arrive quickly. The tradition is sometimes confused with other midnight foods, but Spain's defining New Year's Eve food ritual uses twelve grapes rather than twelve different dishes.