12 Grapes At Midnight: Great Latino New Year’s Eve Tradition, And Superstition

*Many of us do this at the stroke of midnight New Year’s Eve without knowing why, or how for that matter.  In case you were needing an explanation for the act, here’s this piece from Food Republic. I like the list at the end that has six different ways of consuming the traditional 12 grapes: it runs from  “Zen Master” to “Drunken style.” VL

By Judy Cantor-Navas, Food Republic

Eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve is both a tradition and a superstition in Spain. Rare is the Spaniard who will risk poisoning their fate for the coming year by skipping the grapes, one for each stroke of midnight.

Americans may giddily greet the New Year downing a glass of champagne and grabbing a kiss at the drop of the ball. But the first 12 seconds of the Spaniards’ New Year are somewhat quieter and more intense, as everyone focuses on eating all 12 of the “miraculous grapes” that symbolize 12 lucky months ahead.

Eating the grapes pretty much guarantees starting off the year with a little adrenaline rush, and most likely some laughs. While  the goal of getting the 12 grapes down in time can spark a contest of who is más macho around the table, the biggest challenge is more likely to be not gagging as you cram them in your mouth and try to swallow while laughing hysterically.

Click HERE to read the list.