No plans for New Years? Try these traditions…

As the New Year approaches, the world unites in diverse celebrations, each brimming with unique traditions that signify hope, renewal, and a fresh start. Across continents and cultures, these customs encapsulate the collective aspiration for a promising year ahead. Let’s delve into ten captivating New Year’s traditions from various countries, each embodying its cultural richness and symbolising the journey into a new chapter.

Spain:

Grapes of Good Fortune In the heart of Spain, the arrival of the New Year calls for a whimsical yet meaningful custom — the devouring of twelve grapes as the clock strikes midnight. This tradition, known as “Las doce uvas de la suerte,” invites individuals to eat twelve grapes — one for each stroke of the clock — signifying prosperity and good fortune for each month of the upcoming year. Spaniards gather in squares, eagerly awaiting the chimes, relishing each grape and eagerly anticipating the blessings it brings. The first year I moved to Spain I took twelve small grapes and my friends pointed out that my dreams may turn out small in the following year so now I choose the biggest grapes to gulp down!