Nochevieja (New Year's Eve)

Eating 12 grapes (las doce uvas de la suerte)—one grape for each stroke of midnight clock (campanadas). Tradition started 1909 (Alicante grape growers with surplus harvest; Madrid's Puerta del Sol clock made it national). Specifics: each grape represents each month of new year; eat all 12 grapes within 12 seconds (from first to last stroke)—extremely difficult (can't eat at countdown "10-9-8" because 10 seconds remaining—must start at first stroke and finish by 12th stroke). Cava or sparkling wine (Catalan cava preferred over Champagne for Spanish celebration—Cordorníu, Freixenet, Segura Viudas, Juve y Camps) drunk after midnight, often with gold ring in glass for luck (tradición de la sortija—gold ring in cava glass, whoever gets it will marry next year). Also: "Misa del Gallo" (midnight mass) at cathedrals for religious families; in Barcelona's Plaça de Catalunya, tradition of wearing red underwear (for good luck—calzoncillos rojos/bras rojos) and eating lentils (lentejas—shape like coins, symbolizing prosperity) at midnight (Madrid's Puerta del Sol also adopted lentil tradition from Catalonia). Pro tip: buy 12 grapes in small cup at any supermarket (supermercado) in December ("uvas de Nochevieja" in clear plastic cup, grapes already peeled and deseeded—otherwise attempting with unpeeled grapes with seeds leads to choking hazard). Hotels book 6+ months in advance for Puerta del Sol views (balcony overlooking square)—rooms facing Plaza del Sol can cost €500+ for single night