image: 07.12.31 las uvas en sol, via flickr

In Spain, every December 31st at 11:59 pm pretty much everyone in the country has a plate of twelve fresh grapes ready and waiting. Some peel the grapes and remove the seeds while other brave souls take the more natural route. The idea behind this tradition is to eat each grape in time with the chimes of the official clocktower in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol.

This year we’ll be celebrating New Year’s Eve in the United States so we’ll be able to eat our grapes twice, once at 6 pm EST (the stroke of midnight in Spain) and again at midnight EST.

What kind of traditions does your family celebrate on New Year’s Eve? How do you celebrate that special moment which ushers in the New Year? Whatever your plans are, we wish you all the best for the upcoming year!