Why are people eating grapes on New Year’s Eve? 

At this point in time, it comes as no surprise that social media has once again repopularised something from the past and made it go viral again. The trend in question? Eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve – under a table, no less.

Over the recent holidays, you would have probably come across videos of people counting down to the New Year while wolfing down a handful of grapes. These videos, often hilarious and chaotic, have been circulating on platforms such as Instagram and of course, TikTok.

But why are people going to great lengths to secure a bag of grapes just for New Year’s Eve? For the uninitiated, the tradition of eating 12 grapes right before the start of the New Year is said to bring good luck with each grape representing your 12 resolutions or wishes for the new year. But that’s not to say that this is something new. As a matter of fact, it first originated in Spain and dates back to the 1880s.

It’s said that Madrid’s bourgeoisie popularised the practice, inspired by the French tradition of pairing champagne with grapes on New Year’s Eve. By the early 1900s, farmers in Alicante facing a surplus grape harvest encouraged the tradition as a creative way to market their produce.

Previously, the tradition was commonly practised across the Caribbean, South America and other Hispanic and Latine countries, however, the tradition has now gone global, thanks to social media’s penchant for reviving quirky customs.

In fact, the trend has garnered the likes of influencers including Filipino-American influencer, Bretman Rock who recently shared more about the ritual on his podcast “Da Baddest Radio”.

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In the episode, titled ‘Eating Grapes On New Year’s Eve’, he detailed the importance of pairing the grapes with the right-coloured underwear. “At the stroke of 12, you have one minute to eat 12 grapes,” he explained. “Wear red for love, green for money, or yellow for health.” Bretman humorously added that his red underwear—and the grapes—brought him his current partner, saying, “I wore red underwear, ate 12 grapes, and found my lover.”

Another tradition closer to home offers a similar promise. In Penang, Malaysia, young women seeking love have long practised tossing mandarin oranges into the water during Chap Goh Mei, the 15th and final day of Chinese New Year celebrations. This 19th-century custom is believed to attract romance and good fortune, adding a uniquely Southeast Asian twist to love-seeking traditions.

While it may seem a little bizarre, whether you’re munching grapes under a table or tossing oranges into a river, these rituals reflect a universal human hope: the desire to invite luck, love, and prosperity into our lives. Even if you’re sceptical of their effectiveness, there’s a certain charm in embracing these quirky customs—and who knows? Maybe they’ll work their magic for you.