What is the name of New Year's Eve in Spanish-speaking countries?

New Year’s Eve is called Nochevieja in Spanish-speaking countries.

The word literally combines noche, meaning “night,” with vieja, meaning “old,” so it refers to the old year’s night. It is used for December 31, the evening before Año Nuevo, or New Year’s Day. Celebrations often include family meals, public countdowns, fireworks, and midnight traditions.

In Spain, Nochevieja is strongly associated with eating twelve grapes to the twelve midnight chimes. Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas share the name but may have different foods, music, religious customs, and public festivities.

Nochevieja is sometimes confused with Nochebuena, which means Christmas Eve and falls on December 24. Día de Reyes refers to Three Kings’ Day, celebrated on January 6 in many Spanish-speaking communities, so these names mark different points in the holiday season.