Happy New Year

Yesterday we came back from the UK having spent Christmas with our families We got back in time to celebrate the New Year with our Spanish friends Jose and Paloma and with Sebastian’s and Samantha’s partners Lidia and Andres.

New Years Eve or Noche Vieja is a very special celebration in Spain with lots of partying and celebrating. At twelve o clock every one has to eat 12 grapes, one to coincide with each chime of the equivalent of big Ben. At midnight all the Spanish families and friends stand around watching the clock strike twelve on television and stuff the grapes in their mouth with careful coordination.

Here’s Samantha proudly showing her carefully prepared packet of 12 grapes.

Apparently this custom started in the 1880’s when grape producers from Murcia had a glut of table grapes. They calculated that if everyone in Spain ate just 12 grapes it would solve the problem of overproduction and that is where the custom developed from.

Inside the packet; 12 grapes with their skins and pips removed to make easier eating!

Everyone carefully watching and listening to the clock on television, so as to eat their grapes at the right moment.

Any way Happy New Year to you all and I hope to have a more serious blog entrance next week.