Spain is a fantastic place to celebrate New year´s Eve, with its bustling cities like Madrid and Barcelona offering exciting fiestas and celebrations for “nochevieja” (“old night”). Here are a few of the most popular traditions:
“Las Uvas”
The most popular New Year´s Eve tradition is “las doce uvas de la buena suerte“ (the 12 grapes of good luck). At 12 seconds to midnight the countdown begins and each time the bell rings in a new second, millions of Spaniards (sitting at home, at parties and in the streets watching the celebrations) have to eat a grape, for a total of twelve grapes. The origin of this funny tradition supposed to bring good luck, apparently comes from some enterprising farmers with a surplus of grapes a century ago, so it is is not a tradition dating back to medieval times. It is however a tradition that EVERYONE in Spain celebrates. Enterprising Chinese street merchants even sell pre-bagged grapes in the plazas of all major Spanish cities on New Year´s Eve, to bemused tourists. At the stroke of midnight the cork on the Cava bottle is popped, and people tell each other “Feliz año nuevo” and kiss each other on both cheeks.
“Bragas Rojas”
In Spain, as in Italy, the tradition is to wear red underwear and lingerie on New Year´s eve….what more can we say?
“El Brindis”
The toast of bubbly at midnight is made with Spanish Cava, most of which (and the best of which) is made in the wine region of Penedès south of Barcelona. Made by traditional method in the same way as champagne (with second fermentation in bottle), there are some fabulous examples of Cava. Our favorite is definitely Agustí Torelló´s stylish “Kripta” cava, which comes in an amphora shaped bottle. Other excellent producers include Parés Baltà, Albet i Noya, Gramona and Raventós i Blanc.
Wherever this nochevieja finds you in the world, we wish you a very, very happy new year and todo lo mejor for 2009!
