Midnight grapes: The global New Year's Eve luck ritual
In a few hours, we will welcome the year 2025. In recent years, a popular trend associated with this celebration has become eating 12 grapes right after the clock strikes midnight. This is meant to bring luck and prosperity in love. What are the origins of this ritual, and does it work?
Every culture has its own customs and beliefs. Thanks to globalization and the widespread use of the Internet, we can discover traditions from various parts of the world and practice them ourselves or with loved ones. One example of this phenomenon is the New Year's Eve eating of 12 grapes. This superstition has crossed the borders of its home country and has been embraced by millions of internet users.
Grapes and their properties
Grapes are sweet and tasty, but above all, they are healthy. They contain vitamins A, C, E, K, and B. Additionally, they contain minerals and antioxidants that fight free radicals, which are responsible for the aging process and the development of diseases. Grapes are also rich in fiber, which positively affects the digestive system and keeps us feeling full for longer.
Grapes in the kitchen
Grapes are often eaten as a standalone snack but work well in various desserts and sweets. You can prepare a cake, jelly, or mousse with them and make jam or juice. They are also good in a more savory form, as an addition to a cheese platter or as part of a salad.
The beginnings of the 12 grapes custom
This tradition originated in Spain at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Its popularity increased in 1909 when grapes were overpopulated in Alicante. Winemakers, wanting to sell the surplus, spread the idea that eating 12 grapes after midnight, in the rhythm of the 12 clock strikes, would bring luck and prosperity in the coming year.
This custom is still practiced today, not only by Spaniards. Residents in Latin America also prepare glasses with the appropriate number of light grapes each year. You only have one minute to eat them, not a second more! If someone fails, they risk a year full of bad luck.
The 12 grapes trend on TikTok
In recent years, this tradition has become very popular among TikTok users, especially the variant suggesting that eating 12 grapes under the table and in red underwear is supposed to bring success in love and increase fertility. Singles from around the world practice this ritual, hoping that they will finally find their other half.
Numerous recordings on social media show that this custom often proves effective. It's worth incorporating it into your New Year's Eve party to see if the promises of happiness and love will come true.
