A common story traces the tradition of the twelve lucky grapes, or uvas de la suerte, to grape farmers in Alicante, Spain, who suggested the idea when they had a surplus harvest to unload in the early 1900s. But according to food writer Jeff Koehler, newspaper articles about the tradition from the 1880 suggest it developed from Madrid’s bourgeoisie copying the French custom of drinking champagne and eating grapes on New Year’s Eve.
Either way, Spanish tradition eventually became a superstition that spread to Central and South America. Eating one grape at each of midnight’s 12 clock chimes guarantees you a lucky year—if and only if, you simultaneously ruminate on their significance. (Each grape represents an upcoming month.) If you fail to conscientiously finish your grapes by the time the clock stops chiming, you’ll face misfortune in the new year.
Superstitions tend to be specific, and uvas de la suerte is no different. Most Spaniards eat white Aledo grapes, which farmers in Alicante, Spain, protect from the sun, birds, and other pests by tying paper bags around as they grow. This process, which slows the grapes’ development and allows them to grow a finer skin, produces a grape that’s soft, ripe, and ready to be sold in twelve-packs in December. Now isn’t that lucky?
It seems a very complicated way to earn good luck 🍀
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how about 12 sips of champagne, made from the grape?
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Does it works?
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We shall see )
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😍👍
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Yessss. Good plan!
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I’ve never heard of that tradition! So weird 😅
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most traditions are )
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It is always interesting to learn how certain traditions get started. Maybe the more common champagne toast is just a quick and convenient way to insure your grape intake at midnight. Although the alcohol may make conscious rumination a bit trickier!
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an excellent point –
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It’s really interesting to know that. Thankyou for sharing this.
Btw I just written something about 2020’s farewell, I’ll be glad if you pay a visit. Thankyou
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Always something to learn, and I will !
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I love learning about these traditions! I just posted the Italian ones for New Year’s Eve ahaha
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Great! I’m half Italian so I need to know )
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Well that is one way of trying to ensure good luck! What happens if you want to doubly ensure a positive outcome? Happy New Year
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Right!
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Cheers. Have a wonderful day.
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We just seem to try to out super each other with our superstitions. I thought I’d heard them all.
Guess not. This one wins until I read the next one.
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there is always another )
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I’ll stick to my traditional champagne, cuddles, and kisses…
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a winning combo
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I will literally try anything to make 2021 better
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Same!
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I may take a dozen sips of wine, Beth, yes.
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There you go!
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Strange, I rather toast with champagne!
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Still from the grape!
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Great minds think alike. I am just working on a post of a similar nature 🙂
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Great!
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Calling good fortune with grapes…humans are an odd lot.
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Indeed we are –
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What a fun thing to learn about! I’ve never heard of the 12 grapes tradition. Darn, I wish I had put grapes on the grocery order that’s on the way. Oh well, I’d lose count of the grapes while ruminating anyway. LOL. Happy end of the year, Beth! Hugs on the wing.
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You too!
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This is a tricky feat! If you don’t do it right, you’re in trouble. Is it safer to just pass and have a good year instead of a great one?
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Perhaps and what if you choke on a grape, then it is all for naught )
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I asked some friends if they’d heard of this tradition. One of their daughters had lived in Spain and they visited the other daughter in Colombia last Christmas. Sure enough, they did the grape eating last year. Their conclusion: it’s a lot of grapes! And they suggested we start our own Belgian version by eating 12 chocolates…I could get into that. 🙂
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Ooh, I live your Belgian idea!
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Love
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Now Linda, THAT’S a plan to subscribe to… 😋🙃🍫
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I like the chocolate idea as well and I wouldn’t miss a minute, since I’m realllllly good at eating chocolate, no matter the time of year. 🙂 We drive ourselves insane with the things we make up. Always we threaten bad luck if we don’t do something. I think we really are crazy as… Sorry, noting to compare us to, since we’re at the top of the list. 🙂
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that we are )
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I think I’ll stick with my black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day.
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a great option
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We toast at midnight and our good luck is having pork roast and sauerkraut on New Years Day, although I do like the wine superstition!
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that sounds great
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wow that’s so interesting! love these kind of posts, better to not got a hangover with as well. Happy New Year!
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that’s true )
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Okay, very cool info! Thanks Beth!
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I wonder if any of us will be doing this –
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Yes, I have no banana grapes today!
So, well …okay 12 liquid grapes!
YAHOO 🥂🍷🥂🍷🥂🍷🥂🍷
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Great backstory, Beth!
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I love finding out about traditions and the reasons for them
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Cool! Let’s eat 12 grapes and may we achieve grapeness in 2021! ʸ(ᴖ́◡ु⚈᷉)♡⃛
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,3
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❤
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what a fabulous custom 🙂 this blog is a cornucopia of curiosities and wonder, delivered always with priceless humour 🙂
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I love this description, a great compliment – thanks!
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We do that 🙂 12 grapes for good luck but we don’t have chimes so we do it at midnight as long as it’s done before 12:01. Fun to think up 12 thoughts with 12 grapes … but it is a handful 🙂 traditions and good luck options 🙂
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HAPPY NEW YEAR BETH!!!
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you too!
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i’ll bet it’s a challenge – good luck!
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I love this! Not being a drinker, toasting with a diet Coke or Iced coffee seems to have gotten me through though. This is a great alternative!
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I’m just picturing people, especially young people, laughing while they try to stuff their grapes in their mouths and swallow in time to take the next!
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Could be trouble )
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I fall behind one day reading your blog, fail to eat 12 grapes, and now my year is ruined… 🙂
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sounds like you may have eaten at least 12 black beans last night, that may count ?
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if you say so!
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I love traditions! This one is fascinating. Today I’ll be eating pork and sauerkraut, a Germanic New Year’s good luck tradition. Happy New Year, Beth!
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Great!
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