In Spain, grapes are traditionally eaten one at each midnight chime on New Year's Eve.
The custom is known as the twelve grapes of luck, or las doce uvas de la suerte. Each grape represents one month of the coming year, and finishing all twelve before the final chime is associated with good fortune and prosperity.
The tradition is especially linked with the clock in Madrid's Puerta del Sol, whose televised chimes help mark midnight throughout Spain. The ritual has also spread to Spanish-speaking communities in other countries, although local timing and serving customs vary.
A common mix-up is to treat the grapes as a general European New Year's tradition. They are particularly identified with Spain, while other countries have different midnight foods, including lentils, noodles, or round fruit. The grapes are usually prepared in sets of twelve so they can be eaten quickly during the chimes.