Today is December 31st and I am getting ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve Spanish and Cuban style. Our Spanish tradition calls for eating 12 grapes in the last 12 seconds of the year. We call this “las uvas de la suerte” or the “lucky 12 grapes”.
The countdown starts at 11:59:48 pm ( usually with the TV or radio in the background). As we gather together around the table, everyone picks up a batch of 12 grapes. With each of the 12 stroke of midnight, everyone has to eat one grape. By the last stroke, all 12 grapes must be in your mouth or in your belly. As you can imagine, everyone is looking at each other, laughing, while consuming the grapes and struggling to finish up on time to avoid back luck in the upcoming year. This is a fun tradition that is followed by 47 million Spaniards and dates back to the 19th century!
The other thing we do in our family on December 31st is to prepare a Cuban feast including Cuban frijoles ( black beans), lechon ( pork), tostones ( green plantains), yucca and sometimes quimbobo ( Cuban Okra). Of course, I skip the piggy part as I am 100% plant-based.
Cubans also start the year by throwing a bucket full of water out into the street. This helps getting rid of “bad waters” or any negativism and welcome all positive things for the new year. How do you celebrate New Year’s Eve? What’s your family tradition?
Have a Healthy Happy New Year, everyone! This is my wish for you:
“Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, love to complete your life.” ~ Anonymous
