We are now coming to the end of 2020 and although it won’t be the same as other years, celebrating home in a small family group also needs preperations. Do you the Spanish traditions to start the New Year?
Celebrating the New Year in Spain can brings a special set of traditions and protocols to help bring us all good luck.
The 12 grapes
Those of you who have been lucky enough to celebrate New Year’s Eve here in Spain will be familiar with the tradition of eating 12 ‘lucky’ grapes as the clock strikes midnight. It is the ultimate Spanish New Year’s tradition, to eat the twelve grapes, one eaten with each chime of the clock. According to tradition, it is believed that whoever eats their 12 grapes as the bells chime will have a lucky and prosperous year.
A quick word of advice: Although it may seem an easy task – after all, it is only twelve grapes – getting them all in your mouth before the bells stop chiming is actually quite hard.
This practice began in the late nineteenth century when Spain had a surplus in the production of the fruit and has since become the symbol of our identity as we bid farewell to the old year.
The 12 raisins in El Borge
Twelve chimes, twelve raisins. The people of the inland village of El Borge in Malaga province have exchanged the traditional grapes for the more indigenous product of the region, the raisin. Although you can choose between the two, in El Borge, the raisin offers an alternative way to enter the New Year with a fruit that has become a symbol of the local identity and is well known across Andalucia.
Lentil soup for lunch on New Year’s day
Eating lentils ‘lentejas‘ on New Year’s day is one of the most deeply rooted traditions in the inland of Spain. It is said that it brings good luck and attracts money.
Many people do not know that this tradition is even older than that of eating the 12 lucky grapes, but since it is not so present in all homes it is not as well known as the other. They are also known as “lucky lentils” because it is said that eating them after the chimes will attract good luck during the new year.
The tradition consists of preparing lentils to your own taste, putting a plate in the center of the table and a spoon for each member of the family present at that time. After drinking the grapes and toasting with champagne, you have to eat a tablespoon of lentils, just one.
Whichever recipe you choose, enjoy it… and don’t forget that lucky spoonful!
Starting the New Year on the right foot
The first step to get love, fortune and luck in the new year is starting the new year on the right foot. Be sure that you put your right foot ahead of your left while you are eat your 12 grapes this New Year’s Eve!
