Hoping to meet the love of your life in 2024? Following a Spanish tradition this New Year’s Eve could help make your dreams come true — if TikTok is to be believed.
Several women have claimed to have met their significant others in the last year after following the tradition at midnight on December 31.
The custom involves eating 12 grapes — sometimes under a table — in the hope of finding love in the next 12 months.
But where did the 12 lucky grapes tradition originate?
Why do people eat grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve?
The tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve comes from Spain, where they call them uvas de la suerte (lucky grapes). The custom is also observed in parts of Latin America.
One theory suggests that the tradition came from the Spanish city of Alicante in the early 1900s. Grape farmers reportedly conceived the idea to help shift their surplus grapes.
Another theory suggests that it came from people in Madrid who were inspired by the French tradition of eating grapes on New Year’s Eve, as reported by Atlas Obscura.
The idea is that the grapes are supposed to bring the reveller luck for the upcoming year. This is why they eat 12 grapes: one for every month of the upcoming year, as well as one for every bell that chimes at midnight.
However, if one fails to eat all 12 grapes by the 12th bell, it is said that they will have an unlucky year.
Why should you eat grapes under the table on New Year’s Eve?
While eating grapes at midnight is said to bring luck for the next year, doing this under the table has another meaning.
It is thought that it will bring people luck in their love life the following year.
So if you’re single this New Year’s — and hoping not to be this time next year — listen to the TikTok girlies and eat some grapes.
