Sandra Piddock
Guru
In Spain, it's customary to eat 12 grapes at the end of the year - one on each stroke of midnight from the Puerta del Sol clock in Madrid. The custom originated early in the 20th century, when there was a bumper grape harvest, and it was decided to give every Spaniard 12 grapes to bring in the New Year.
In our local village, they give out packs of 12 grapes, along with other party items such as masks, streamers and blowers, and it's hilarious watching everyone try to get the 12 green grapes down in time. If you manage to get the last grape into your mouth with the last stroke of midnight, you'll have a year of good luck, and if you can do it standing on your right leg, you'll also start the New Year on the right foot. As you can imagine, it's sometimes quite a dangerous tradition, when combined with industrial quantities of cava, which is the Spanish celebration drink of choice.
Do you have any interesting or unusual New Year food traditions to share?
In our local village, they give out packs of 12 grapes, along with other party items such as masks, streamers and blowers, and it's hilarious watching everyone try to get the 12 green grapes down in time. If you manage to get the last grape into your mouth with the last stroke of midnight, you'll have a year of good luck, and if you can do it standing on your right leg, you'll also start the New Year on the right foot. As you can imagine, it's sometimes quite a dangerous tradition, when combined with industrial quantities of cava, which is the Spanish celebration drink of choice.
Do you have any interesting or unusual New Year food traditions to share?