News Beat
Why do people eat 12 grapes on New Year’s Eve? What it means
This relates to the concept of eating 12 grapes while sitting under a table on New Year’s Eve.
It dates back to 19th-century Spain, which is known as uvas de la suerte or “lucky grapes”.
While not traditionally something done in the UK, it has seen some interest in recent years, with people posting videos to platforms like TikTok of them completing the act.
It’s nearly time! 🍾
Welcome to #TUITriviaTuesday , NYE edition! 🎆 In which European country do people celebrate New Year by eating 12 grapes at midnight for good luck? 🔍 Hint…this country’s flag has red and yellow stripes 🍇
— tuiuk (@TUIUK) December 30, 2025
Why do people eat 12 grapes on New Year’s Eve?
The tradition is said to give you good luck for the next year if you can eat the grapes quickly enough.
The idea is that people eat one grape at each chime as the clock strikes midnight, with each grape representing a month of the coming year.
If you finish all twelve in time, you’ll have good luck, but if you fail, you won’t be quite so fortunate.
This can be quite tricky to do in that sort of time, though, but the idea of just eating 12 grapes one at a time at midnight can suffice.
Can anyone at @Tesco explain why this is a thing? 12 individual grapes in their own section. £1 on clubcard, goodness knows what the original price is. pic.twitter.com/Nf1fiDqXoM
— FashDashHill (FPL) (@FashDashHill) December 29, 2025
Although many videos shared online of people participating in the tradition have shown them sitting under a table, that is not part of the original concept.
To capitalise on potential interest around the idea, Tesco have launched small packets of 12 grapes that people can buy in their supermarkets.
These packets cost £1.25, with the items inside being Moyca grapes from Spain.
How did the 12 grapes on New Year’s Eve tradition start?
The tradition is said to have started in the 1880s among wealthy families in Madrid.
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They were said to be inspired by a French custom of drinking champagne and eating grapes on New Year’s Eve.
The ritual eventually became popular across Spain in the early 1900s, partly due to a surplus grape harvest from Alicante farmers.
They promoted the idea of indulging in 12 grapes at midnight as a way to sell some extra produce.
