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‘12 Grapes’ New Year Ritual Goes Viral With Under-Table Twist as Retailers Roll Out Special Packs

The late-19th-century ritual is Spanish in origin; the under-table element is a modern social-media addition.

Overview

  • In the tradition known as las doce uvas de la suerte, participants eat one grape per clock chime at midnight, each symbolizing a month of the year and a wish for good fortune.
  • Influencers are promoting a crouch-under-the-table variant often linked to finding love, but reporters note this twist is not part of the original custom and love claims are anecdotal.
  • Retailers have moved to meet demand, with Spanish supermarkets selling peeled and pitted ‘lucky grapes’ and Tesco offering 12-grape packets priced at about £1.25 using Spanish Moyca grapes.
  • The practice extends well beyond Spain, featuring prominently in New Year celebrations across Latin America, including Mexico, where families commonly make a wish with each grape.
  • Coverage includes practical safety advice, warning that rushing 12 grapes can pose a choking risk and advising that children’s grapes be sliced before taking part.