What is the traditional Spanish name for the twelve New Year's Eve grapes?
Answer
Las doce uvas de la suerte
The traditional Spanish name for the twelve New Year's Eve grapes is las doce uvas de la suerte.
The phrase literally means “the twelve grapes of luck.” In Spain, celebrants try to eat one grape at each of the twelve clock chimes at midnight. The ritual is intended to bring prosperity or good fortune for the coming year.
The custom is especially associated with the clock at Madrid's Puerta del Sol. Television broadcasts synchronize audiences around the country, although the sound and pacing of preliminary signals can make the final chimes confusing for visitors. The grapes are often peeled or selected small to make the challenge easier.
Stories about the origin differ. A widely repeated explanation links the custom to a grape surplus promoted by growers, while newspapers documented grape-eating at New Year earlier than that claim suggests. The name remains stable even when families use different grape varieties or celebrate outside Spain.