Expat Guide To Spain

New Year's Eve in Spain, known as Nochevieja, is a vibrant and exciting celebration steeped in unique traditions and superstitions. While people around the world celebrate the end of the year and the beginning of a new one, Spain stands out with its distinctive customs and beliefs surrounding this special night. From the iconic twelve grapes of luck to the symbolic act of starting the year on the right foot, Spaniards embrace a variety of superstitions to ensure good fortune and prosperity in the coming year. These superstitions offer a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Spain and its people's deep-rooted belief in luck, fortune, and the importance of starting the year with positive intentions. Let’s take a look at the most common:

• Eating twelve grapes: The most iconic New Year's Eve tradition in Spain is eating twelve grapes, one for each chime of the clock at midnight1. These grapes, known as "las doce uvas de la suerte" (the twelve grapes of luck), are believed to bring good luck for each month of the coming year.

• Wearing red or yellow underwear: In addition to red underwear for love, some Spaniards also wear yellow underwear to attract money and prosperity in the new year. The colour yellow is associated with gold and wealth, making it a popular choice for those seeking financial fortune.

• Starting the year on the right foot: To ensure a positive start to the year, many Spaniards believe that the first step you take after the bells chime should be with your right foot. This symbolic act is believed to set the tone for a year filled with good luck and positive experiences.

• Dropping a gold object in Cava: Some Spaniards drop a gold object, such as a ring or coin, into their glass of Cava before the midnight toast. This superstition is believed to bring good fortune and financial prosperity in the new year. To ensure the good luck charm works, you must drink the entire glass of Cava after the toast and retrieve the gold object.

• Burning coloured candles: In some regions of Spain, people burn coloured candles on New Year's Eve to attract different types of luck. For example, yellow candles are burned for abundance, orange for intelligence, green for health, and white for clarity.

• Putting money in your shoe: For those seeking economic prosperity, there's a superstition of putting money in a shoe before midnight. This practice is believed to attract wealth and financial abundance in the coming year.

• Burning a list of desires: Some people write down a list of up to three desires and stick it somewhere on their body before the last dinner of the year. Like with the red underwear, the list must be burned immediately after midnight to symbolize the release of those desires and the hope for their fulfilment in the new year.

• Cleaning the house: On the last day of the year, it is customary to clean the house thoroughly with a broom to remove all bad energy and start the new year fresh. This practice is believed to cleanse the home of any negativity and prepare it for good fortune in the coming year.

The various superstitions, from the twelve grapes to the red underwear, offer a unique and memorable experience for those who participate. Whether you believe in the magic or not, embracing these customs allows you to connect with the Spanish culture on a deeper level and appreciate the importance of hope, renewal, and community in welcoming the new year.

As the clock strikes midnight and the fireworks illuminate the sky, remember to eat your grapes, raise a glass of Cava, and step into the new year with your right foot, embracing the spirit of Nochevieja and all the good fortune it may bring!