Many of us have heard of the Spanish tradition of eating grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, but did you know that it has established itself as a tradition across Mexico too?

It is said that successfully eating 12 grapes, each representing a month of the year, as the clock chimes 12 times at midnight on Nochevieja, New Year’s Eve, will lead to good fortune. Focusing on your wishes for the new year each time you pop one into your mouth will also mean that they’re more likely to come true, so keep that list of resolutions fresh in your mind!

But how did this tradition come about in the first place?

One theory suggests that it originated in Spain in the early 1900s, when a farmer from Alicante conjured up the idea as a way to sell more grapes after a particularly good harvest that year. What began as a cunning marketing tactic then, has now been transformed into a century-long tradition that is honored across Spain and parts of Latin America.

Known as las uvas de la suerte, lucky grapes, people often buy theirs ahead of time to allow them to ripen and sweeten by the end of the month. This ensures fewer sour grapes, which symbolize back luck for that particular month if you find one amongst your 12 on Nochevieja. Remember to consume them all before the clock stops chiming - that’s 12 seconds exactly - or you could be facing a year of misfortune instead, the tradition goes. ¡Buena suerte!

If you would like to read more about Mexican culture, history, cuisine and language, check out our blog page for our latest monthly articles. You can also sign up to our newsletter to receive these straight to your inbox along with the latest news about our non-profit school for local and Indigenous students in Felipe Carrillo Puerto. 

The best way to experience the Mexican lifestyle is in person, with a Na’atik Immersion experience. Not only do you live with a local Mexican-Maya family, sharing home-cooked meals and free time, but also receive expert instruction in your chosen language at our school. Best of all, every immersion experience helps fund our subsidized and free local education program, helping local students to access opportunities and make their own futures.