Madrid is the Spanish city where the Puerta del Sol New Year's Eve clock tradition is held.
At midnight, people in Spain traditionally eat one grape with each of the clock's twelve chimes. The twelve grapes are called las doce uvas de la suerte, or the twelve lucky grapes, and are intended to bring good fortune for the twelve months ahead.
Madrid's Puerta del Sol is famous because its clock is broadcast nationally, making the square a symbolic center of Spain's countdown. The clock is mounted on the former post-office building, now the headquarters of the Community of Madrid. Large crowds gather in the square, while many others follow the chimes on television.
The ritual depends on timing: the quarter-chimes before midnight are not the twelve grape chimes. Eating too quickly can make the custom challenging, which is why televised broadcasts often provide a clear view and synchronized sound for participants across the country.