Do You Eat 12 Grapes Before or After Midnight
You eat the 12 grapes after midnight, starting at the first stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. The tradition is to eat one grape with each chime of the clock, finishing all 12 before the clock finishes striking. Eating them before midnight is considered incorrect if the goal is to follow the standard Spanish custom.
The tradition comes from Spain and is linked to the practice of eating one grape for each stroke of the clock at the Puerta del Sol in Madrid. According to the reported history, the custom began in the late 19th or early 20th century as a way to celebrate and bring good luck for the coming year.
To follow the tradition correctly, wait until midnight and start eating the grapes with the first bell strike. You should aim to finish all 12 grapes by the time the clock finishes ringing. Some people prepare 12 peeled grapes in advance so they can eat them quickly and smoothly during the countdown.
The custom has spread to other Spanish-speaking countries and communities that celebrate New Year's Eve with similar grape-eating rituals. If you want to try the tradition, simply count the clock strikes and eat one grape per stroke, starting right after midnight.
