Charcuterie board leftovers have a new purpose- Toss the stale crackers, but save the grapes to eat under the table on New Years Eve. When the clock strikes twelve, you might be wondering- why on earth are we eating grapes under the table? Well, the tradition originating from Spain is said to bring luck in love. As a result, it has gathered some interest online, and now, it looks like the whole world is eager to join in. Put that dating app on pause and gather some grapes, twelve to be precise- New Year's Eve is just around the corner.
Eating Twelve Grapes on New Year's Eve: Where it All Began
There are two supposed origins of the connection between grapes and New Year's Eve. The first dates back to the 1880s, when the middle class of Madrid used to copy the French by pairing grapes with Champagne on the 31st. They would head to the square of their town and eat one grape per chime at midnight- showing off the luxury that not all could not afford.
The other theory dates back to 1909 in the city of Alicante, a year that rewarded grape and wine merchants with a particularly healthy harvest. To avoid any wasted vines, they came up with a brilliant marketing tactic to promote the eating of grapes on New Year's Eve. That was of course, the promise of good fortune.
But Why Under the Table?
The twelve grapes of luck, or "las doce uvas de la suerte", is an age-old Spanish tradition that promises good fortune, this we now know. However, nowhere is it mentioned that they must be consumed under a piece of furniture to acquire said fortune. It seems that this quirky condition has been added as the tradition has passed down through the years. What's more, the fortune is now specifically for love, so don't be disappointed when your lottery ticket doesn't win. Today, this fun ritual has taken TikTok by storm, with many cradling under dining tables, armed and ready with a bunch of grapes for when the clock strikes twelve.
Will Any Grapes Do?
The truly "lucky grapes" are a Spanish variety called Aledo, and are no ordinary ones. They are protected by Denominación de Origen (designation of origin, or D.O.) status, and are wrapped in paper bags in June and July and kept covered as they ripen in November and December. However, if you can't get your hands on this kind, any fresh green grapes you have in the fridge will do.
Having said this, you may want to opt for the seedless kind. If you've ever tried to scoff down twelve grapes in twelve seconds (one for each chime as per the tradition), you'll know why. In fact, many Spanish supermarkets now sell small tins of 12 seeded and peeled grapes to help speed up the chewing process and in turn, secure that good luck.
So, no matter where you're celebrating this year, why not add some grapes to your New Years Eve feast? After all, you can never be too lucky in love.
