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Not just a long-standing custom from Spain, the trend of eating 12 grapes on New Year's Eve is becoming a viral phenomenon in Vietnam. From its meaning of wishing for good luck to a modified version where people "hide under the table" to escape being single, this ritual is sweeping across TikTok and Facebook platforms in the final days of the year.
This year, instead of just watching fireworks, thousands of young Vietnamese people were busy preparing a tray containing exactly 12 grapes for New Year's Day. This ritual, originally called Las doce uvas de la suerte (12 lucky grapes), is a distinctive cultural tradition of the Spanish people dating back to the late 19th century. Traditionally, at the stroke of midnight, each person eats one grape corresponding to each chime of the clock. The 12 grapes represent the 12 months of the new year, with the wish that everything will go smoothly and sweetly.
The Las doce uvas de la suerte (12 lucky grapes) ritual originates from Spain and symbolizes 12 smooth and sweet months in the new year.
The Las doce uvas de la suerte (12 lucky grapes) ritual originates from Spain and symbolizes 12 smooth and sweet months in the new year.
The origins of this custom are intertwined with fascinating stories. A popular theory suggests that in 1909, farmers in Alicante (Spain) created this ritual as a "sales promotion" campaign to sell off surplus grapes after a bountiful harvest. However, some sources also claim that the upper class in Madrid adopted this custom from the French in the 1880s to create a unique atmosphere for their year-end parties. Regardless of its origins, it has become an intangible cultural heritage, spreading to Latin American countries and now enjoying a strong presence in Vietnam.
Each chime of the New Year's Eve bell corresponds to a grape being eaten, a cultural tradition dating back to the late 19th century.
While in Spain people eat grapes to pray for peace and good fortune, this trend has been "upgraded" to a more unique version by Vietnamese Gen Z: eating grapes under the table. On platforms like TikTok, the hashtag #12grapes has become a trending keyword with millions of views. Many young people believe that huddling under the table at the moment of transition between the old and new year will help their prayers for love more easily "reach" the universe.
Besides praying for good fortune, many young Vietnamese people have transformed this ritual into a unique "challenge" to hope to escape being single in the new year.
According to folklore, each grape you eat on New Year's Eve carries a unique "message." If the grape is sweet, the corresponding month of your new year will be filled with joy and good fortune. Conversely, a slightly sour or bitter grape is seen as a reminder of challenges that need to be overcome. This "challenge" mindset makes choosing grapes more important than ever.
Seedless, thin-skinned grapes are preferred so that the person performing the task can keep up with the 12 chimes of the clock.
To perform this ritual as "professionally" and smoothly as possible, young people often prefer seedless grapes with thin skins, such as Aledo green or red grapes. Eating 12 grapes in less than a minute (to the rhythm of the clock) is not easy, so many people carefully peel them beforehand or skewer them in strings to speed up the process, avoiding choking or missing the deadline before the clock rings.
Experts advise people to be cautious about the risk of choking when trying to swallow 12 grapes in a short amount of time.
The trend of eating grapes on New Year's Eve was so popular that even supermarkets and convenience stores in Vietnam couldn't stay out of it. Unlike the usual practice of selling grapes by the kilogram, just before December 31st, shelves were suddenly stocked with limited-edition boxes of grapes, each containing exactly 12 carefully selected grapes. At some large supermarkets, these boxes were even given catchy names like "12 Wishing Grapes" or "New Year's Eve Combo to Escape Being Single."
While it brings a positive atmosphere and belief in a good start, health experts also issue important warnings. Trying to swallow 12 grapes in such a short time, especially in a cramped position under a table, poses a risk of choking. Families should exercise extreme caution if they attempt this trend with young children or the elderly.
Scientifically speaking, luck or success in the new year largely stems from individual effort and perseverance. However, from a spiritual perspective, rituals like these act as a "tonic" of optimism, helping to connect friends and family in this sacred moment.
New Year's Eve 2026 is fast approaching, have you prepared your 12 grapes yet? Whether you're hiding under the table or sitting proudly at the banquet, remember that joy and safety are the greatest "lucks" we can give ourselves in the new year.
