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Well, we missed it again!
This year was our family’s second New Year’s celebration in Spain. You would think that we would have remembered this time—remembered to ring in the new year Spanish style.
But, we didn’t.
Just like last year, it wasn’t until we turned on Spanish television at 11:55 p.m. It wasn’t until we saw the numbers countdown on the screen from 12 to 1. It wasn’t until we watched the commentators pop the grapes in their mouths one by one, along with their swigs of champagne. It wasn’t until we received texts from our neighbors to gather on the street the share together the traditional “uvas.” (“grapes” in Spanish)
Missed It
It wasn’t until then . . . that we realized that we had once again missed “Las doce uvas de la suerte,” “The twelve grapes of luck.”
This year, on Nochevieja, or “old night,” the last day of the year, we weren’t “weaving cultures” with our refugee friends from around the world. Rather, we were “weaving cultures” illegally with our dear friends from Canada.
Illegal Gatherings
The Spanish government had originally increased the maximum size of house gatherings from 6 to 10 on December 24, 25, 31, and January 1. However, just a week before Christmas, they came back on that decision, and the maximum gathering size returned to six—much to our dismay.
When you are already a family of six, that makes gatherings with friends quite challenging!
On December 24, for our youngest son’s 8th birthday celebration, we cheated. We gathered—11 of us in our house—to enjoy this special day. On December 31, we did the same, gathering at our friend’s home to ring in the new year. Our two families—11 of us.
At one point, 10:50 p.m., there was a knock at the door.
“Police?!”
Several of us scurried downstairs to hide under the ping-pong table in the dark basement.
False alert—it wasn’t the police, just two friends popping in.
We ate appetizers, we played cards, we laughed, we chatted.
Grapes?!
With just a few minutes to spare before the big “gong” of midnight, my friend mentioned the grapes.
“The grapes?” I said.
Oh no! Once again, we had missed the grapes. I guess we will never be Spanish.
“They are super expensive,” my friend went on to explain.
My husband mentioned that his Japanese friend bought some “Lucky Grapes” on New Year’s Eve, desiring to fully integrate into Spanish culture. A package of 12 green, seedless grapes sold for 1 euro. These special grapes are also sold in tin cans with a long shelf life.
That seems like a small price to pay for a unique cultural experience.
Cultural Awareness
Curious, I decided to put on my cultural awareness glasses the next day and do some research on the origin of the “uvas” tradition.
Here’s what I found . . .
“The particular tradition of popping a grape in the mouth to the dong of the bells in front of the clock of Madrid’s Puerta del Sol has its origins in a working class rebellion against a tax imposed in 1882 by José Abascal y Carredano, the mayor of Madrid.
He reportedly imposed a tax of 5 pesetas on those holding parties on the eve of Epiphany – when the Three Kings roll into town – which meant only the wealthy in the city could afford to celebrate late into the night after the free parade in the afternoon.
So the working class decided to stage their own celebration in front of the then mayor’s office in Puerta del Sol and scoff a grape on each gong of the bell to make a mockery of the bourgeoise dining habits.”
The Local
Others say that the bourgeoisie in Madrid copied the French tradition of grapes and champagne on New Year’s Eve. (The Local)
Interesting . . . this is obviously not a new tradition.
Others tell a different story of the origin of the “12 Grapes of Luck.” One narrative says that the cultivators in Alicante had an amazing harvest in 1909 and found a creative way to sell off their surplus. (NPR)
Danger—Grape Popping!
No matter what the true origin might be, there has been recent concern about the health risks of popping 12 grapes quickly into your mouth—while laughing, dancing, celebrating, and chatting.
Danger . . .
“Ear, nose and throat (ENT) associations have for years warned that the Spanish tradition of wolfing down a grape for every one of the twelve chimes that rings in the New Year is not without its risks.
They’ve told the public to buy seedless, skinless grapes and are even pushing for the time between dongs to be extended from three to five seconds to allow people to catch their breath more easily and swallow properly.
People over the age of 65 are also considered to be a high-risk group for suffocation during this tradition and so are young children, especially those under five.”
The Local
The 12 grapes are supposed to bring luck and prosperity for the new year. Not sure what that means for those of us who forgot to buy grapes and pop them into our mouths at midnight this year.
Red Underwear?
Spanish tradition also tells you to wear red ropa interior—underwear, a bra, a sock, whatever. And, ideally, the undergarment should be given to you by someone else.
Needless to say, this American/French woman living in Spain missed BOTH of these Spanish New Year’s traditions—no grapes and no red undergarments!
Let’s hope and pray that abundant blessings of joy, hope, peace, and love still await us in 2021.
Feliz Año Nuevo!
—THE CULTURAL STORY-WEAVER
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LET’S WEAVE CULTURES!
How did you ring in the New Year in your country?
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