In Spain, grapes are traditionally eaten 12 times at midnight on New Year's Eve.
The custom is known as the twelve grapes, or las doce uvas de la suerte. Each grape is meant to be eaten with one stroke of the clock at midnight, and completing the sequence is associated with good fortune for the 12 months ahead.
The tradition became especially popular in Spain during the early 20th century. A widely repeated account links its growth to grape growers in the Alicante region, who promoted excess grape stocks as a lucky New Year's custom. Madrid's Puerta del Sol clock helped turn the ritual into a nationally shared event.
The grapes are often prepared in small tins or peeled and seeded for easier eating. They are sometimes confused with a general Spanish New Year's toast, but the defining feature is the timed sequence of 12 grapes, not a particular drink or variety.