🥳 Spain New Year’s traditions: Grapes, red underwear & lots of good luck!🥂

New Year's Eve in Spain is more than just a party — it's a cultural extravaganza full of exciting traditions! From the famous 12 grapes at midnight to delicious food and great company, there’s no better place to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. 🎇

Curious about how the Spanish ring in the new year? 🤔 In this blog, you’ll learn about their most beloved traditions, common phrases to use, and what you should expect if you ever spend New Year’s Eve in Spain. Ready to dive into the Spanish New Year experience? ¡Vamos! 🥳

🍇 What is the tradition of the 12 grapes in Spain?

One of the most famous traditions in Spain on New Year's Eve (known as Nochevieja) is the 12 grapes. At the stroke of midnight, Spanish people eat one grape for each chime of the clock, making a wish for every grape they eat. 🎉

Where does this come from?
The tradition started in 1909 in Spain to get rid of a grape surplus from that year's harvest. It's now become a beloved tradition that spans across the country, especially in cities like Madrid, where people gather at the famous Puerta del Sol. 🕛

Tip: If you want to join in, make sure you have 12 grapes ready — but don’t forget to chew fast. The tradition can be a little tricky, especially if you’re trying to eat them in time with the 12 campanadas (clock chimes)! 😅

Sounds easy? 😂 WRONG.
You have about 1 second per grape, so you’ll see people choking, laughing, crying, panicking… It’s chaos, but it’s tradition!

Example:
👉 En España comemos doce uvas a medianoche para tener buena suerte.
In Spain we eat twelve grapes at midnight to bring good luck.

🎆 What do Spanish people do on the 31st of December?

On December 31st, the Spanish gather with family and friends to celebrate the final moments of the year. The evening starts with a big family dinner and often lasts until late at night.

What’s on the menu?

Spanish people enjoy traditional New Year’s Eve dishes, including:

Turrón (a sweet nougat made of almonds, perfect for dessert) 🍯

Cava (sparkling wine, perfect for toasting 🥂)

Mariscos (seafood, such as prawns and clams) 🦐

Jamón ibérico (Iberian ham, one of Spain’s finest delicacies) 🐖

As the clock nears midnight, people start preparing for the big countdown, and everyone heads to the living room or gathers in a public square to join in the fun. 🎇

Example:
👉 Los españoles cenan con sus familias y luego celebran hasta la madrugada.
Spanish people have dinner with their families and then celebrate until the early morning.

🎉 What happens on January 1st in Spain?

After the 12 grapes and the celebrations, January 1st is a day for recovery and relaxation. The Spanish call it 'El Día de Año Nuevo' (New Year’s Day), and it’s typically spent with family and close friends.

What do people do?

Many people enjoy a quiet meal, often with more traditional Spanish food like cocido (a Spanish stew) 🥘 or lentejas (lentils) 🍲.

The day after the big celebration, most shops and businesses are closed as people continue to enjoy the festive atmosphere.

People often take the time to rest after the intense celebrations of the night before.

🍽️ What do they eat in Spain for New Year's Eve?

Food is a big part of Spanish New Year’s Eve celebrations! Spanish families gather around a feast filled with delicious treats. Here's what you can expect to see on the table:

Traditional dishes:

🍾 Cava: The traditional sparkling wine 

🍯 Turrón: A rich, almond-based nougat that’s a must for dessert 

🍪 Polvorones: A type of shortbread cookie, which melts in your mouth 

🦐 Mariscos: Seafood is a typical starter 

🐖 Jamón ibérico: This delicious cured ham is a classic at any Spanish celebration.

And of course, the 12 grapes 🥂 must be eaten at midnight, right after the clock strikes twelve!

Example:
👉 En Nochevieja comemos marisco, jamón y las uvas de la suerte.
On New Year's Eve we eat seafood, ham and the lucky grapes.

🎁 Extra traditions you’ll love

Spain is full of fun and quirky traditions that make Nochevieja (New Year's Eve) a magical time! 🥳 Here are a few more extra Spanish traditions that you won’t want to miss. Ready for the fun? Let’s dive in! 🇪🇸✨

❤️ Wearing red underwear: A secret of love and passion

Spaniards believe that wearing red underwear on New Year's Eve will bring love and passion for the coming year. 💋❤️

But here’s the catch:

It’s bad luck if you buy it yourself — it must be given to you by someone else. So, don’t forget to ask for that special gift! 🎁

Fun fact: Red is seen as a lucky color in Spain. Not only does it symbolize love, but it also helps ward off evil spirits. 💫

💍 Putting a gold ring in your cava: A toast to prosperity

This is one of those traditions that combines luxury with good fortune. In some Spanish families, it’s customary to drop a gold ring into your cava (Spanish sparkling wine) at midnight, just before the clock strikes twelve. 🥂💛

The idea is that by doing so, you are inviting prosperity and wealth into the new year. The lucky person who drinks the cava with the ring is said to have financial success throughout the year. 🤑

Imagine the fun! 😆 Cheers to love, success, and plenty of cava!

🧹 Starting the year with a clean house: A fresh start

In Spain, cleaning the house on the 31st of December is more than just tidying up — it’s a symbolic gesture to start the new year fresh and free from any negativity or bad vibes. ✨

It’s like a way of “sweeping out” the old year and welcoming in the new one with open arms and a clean slate. 🧼🧹
Some families even go so far as to open all windows and doors to let the bad energy escape. 🌬️

🌊 New Year’s dip: For the brave and the lucky!

In coastal cities like Valencia, Malaga, and Barcelona, there’s a tradition that might just be for the bold! 🌊 On January 1st, some daredevils jump into the freezing sea for good luck. ❄️

The New Year’s dip is thought to purify the body and bring good fortune for the upcoming year. So, if you ever find yourself in Spain on New Year's Day and are up for the challenge, grab your swim trunks! 🏖️

🥐 Chocolate con churros: The classic post-party breakfast

When the clock strikes 7 a.m., Spaniards know that it’s time for a classic Spanish breakfast: Chocolate con churros 🍫🍩.

This is a popular post-party treat, especially after staying out late celebrating. The thick, creamy chocolate is perfect for dipping your crispy churros, making it a warm and sweet way to start the new year. 😋

Fun fact: Churros are so beloved that you’ll find chocolate con churros shops open all night long in Spain on New Year’s Eve. 🕖

🧠 Useful vocabulary (fun & visual)

🍇 Nochevieja – New Year’s Eve

🎉 Año Nuevo – New Year

🔔 Campanadas – The 12 chimes

🍇 Uvas de la suerte – Lucky grapes

🍾 Cava – Spanish sparkling wine

🎩 Cotillón – Party accessories (hats, confetti…)

🥂 Brindis – Toast

😵‍💫 Resaca – Hangover

🗣️ Mini dialogue

👩: ¿Lista para las uvas? (Ready for the grapes?)

🧑‍🎤: Sí, pero seguro que me atraganto.(Yes, but I’ll probably choke.)

👨‍🦰: ¿Qué te pones esta noche? (What are you wearing tonight?)

👗: Ropa elegante y ropa interior roja.  (Elegant clothes and red underwear.)

📝 Conclusion:

Now you know all about Spanish New Year’s traditions and the exciting ways the Spanish welcome the new year! From the 12 grapes to the delicious food and the fun celebrations, you’ll be ready to take part in this festive tradition. 🎉🍇

Want to practice your Spanish and get more immersed in these traditions? Learn key words like uvas (grapes), turrón (nougat), and cava (sparkling wine) to sound like a true Spaniard this New Year’s! 🥳🎇

And if this year you want to go one step further and not only celebrate New Year’s Eve like a local 🎆🍾, but also sound like one 🗣️😉, don’t miss this article 👉 https://blog.soyguiri.com/how-to-say-happy-new-year-in-spanish 🎉🥂.
You’ll discover how to say Happy New Year in Spanish 🇪🇸✨ — plus some very common expressions for making a toast 🥂, sending good wishes 💫 and starting the year on the right foot 🦶🍀. Perfect for impressing your friends just after the midnight countdown ⏰🍇😉!

🗣️ Practice time! Choose the correct option:

💬 And you?

🍇 Have you ever tried the 12 grapes tradition? 🍀 Would you wear red underwear for good luck? 🤩

Tell us in the comments! 👇