Nochevieja, Spanish for ‘Old Night’, is the name for New Year’s Eve in Spain. There are very specific traditions that are upheld across Spain on this night. As the clock strikes on each of the 12 seconds after midnight, a grape is eaten. The 12 grapes symbolize happiness, good wishes, and hope for the coming year. The grape-eating tradition originated in 1909 in Alicante. Alicante’s wine makers created this unique end-of-year Spanish custom to solve the problem of their post-harvest grape surplus.
Each grape represents a month of the New Year and by eating the grape, one brings that month good luck. Everyone follows the countdown that takes place on Puerta Del Sol in Madrid on their televisions, the event being broadcast nationwide. After the grapes have been eaten, when the clock has stopped chiming, people celebrate by hugging and kissing eachother before toasting with either cava or cider. It is a lovely tradition which I take part in each year. Why not use your Duvet and Pillow Warehouse discount codes to get yourself some cheap cava and grapes in preparation for the celebrations?