How do people in Spain celebrate new year?

Answer 1

Like most festivals in Spain, New Year's Eve, known as "Nochevieja" is usually a family affair which takes place at home. Until midnight people tend to stay at home and on the stroke of midnight it is traditional to eat 12 grapes, one on each stroke of the clock to bring good luck for the New Year. This tradition began when after a particularly big grape harvest the king of Spain decided to give everybody grapes to eat on New Year's Eve.

Answer 2

Spain - always connected with wonderful beaches, lovely bays, sun and a variety of Mediterranean high-quality food like its famous "paella" or "tinto de verano". But of course this country offers a lot more than only its charming mentality. Spain has an extensive history from which plenty of traditions have derived. Some of the most interesting are for example the customs and traditions around Christmas and New Year. Especially on New Year's Eve there are several superstitious traditions in Spain. Let´s have a closer look on it.Related Articles

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The last night of the year starts like all important occasions in Spain with a huge dinner together with the family at home or for those who want to spend it in Spain at the beach to gather an unforgettable experience at villas in Denia or accommodations in Calpe. Before midnight the people take to the streets to celebrate together the turn of the year. In the capital Madrid the people gather at the Puerta del Sol in the city center to hear the church clock striking 12 times in order to greet the New Year. It is a huge event that is transmitted live on TV. But there come a lot more traditions along. Since 1909 it has been a custom to eat with every stroke of the church bell one grape as it was a year of a good field crop. With every grape you can wish for something. If it is managed to swallow all of the twelve grapes it brings you luck and health for the upcoming year. If not, you will be unlucky through the whole year. However, to make it easier as many people in the past almost choked on the grapes, a church bell stroke does not last one second but three seconds. So the countdown does not start twelve seconds before midnight but 36 seconds. Before New Year's Eve it is possible to buy the 12 lucky grapes, already packed in cans or plastic glasses.

At midnight, like everywhere else in the world the sparkling wine glasses are raised that many town halls offer for free and people hug each other. They put a golden ring into the glass to bring luck. So be careful if someone hands you a glass of sparkling wine. Another amusing tradition is to put on red underwear on New Year's Eve. In this way they want to influence their love live in a positive way. These funny traditions are to be found in Spain. Isn't it worth experiencing it yourself and connecting it with a trip to the beach, to wonderful places near the coast by staying at villas in Denia or accommoadations in Calpe?