The symbolic meaning of the new year is recognized around the world, and different people in different places have different ways of commemorating and celebrating the transition. One of the most interesting food-based traditions takes place in Spain.

In this Southern European country, the final 12 seconds of the “old” year are accompanied with a very curious tradition that involves grapes.

As Spaniards watch the year come to a close live, on TV, or in person at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, people put a single green grape into their mouths at each of the final 12 strokes of the clock on New Year’s Eve.

This tradition isn’t based on any type of religious ceremony or folkloric tradition, but it was actually born as a way of stimulating the grape economy in Spain. In 1909, there was a great surplus of grapes in the southeastern region of Alicante, and the grape growers created and publicized this now-classic tradition.

The 12 grapes are now said to represent good luck in the New Year and are an important part of all Spanish households’ New Year’s Eve traditions.

The post You Won’t Believe This Spanish New Year’s Food Tradition appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

Here are three of the strangest gastronomic New Years’ traditions from around the world.

Spain: 12 Grapes

In Spain, it is tradition to consume 12 grapes at the strike of the clock on New Years’ Eve. What’s so strange about this? Well, Spaniards stuff one grape into their mouth at the stroke of every second beginning at 11:59:48 until their mouths are full at midnight and they can finally eat them.

Pickled Herring: Scandinavia, Germany, and Poland

Pickled herring is made of dehydrated herring, a small fish that lives throughout the northern waters of the Atlantic, which has been marinated in a brine solution.

It might not sound appetizing, but in these Northern European cultures, eating pickled herring on New Years’ Eve is supposed to bring good fortune for the new year.

Soba Noodles: Japan

A New Years’ Eve tradition in Japan is to eat soba noodles when the clock strikes midnight on New Years’.

Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour and are usually eaten in a broth with vegetables and spices. Eating these noodles on January 1st is supposed to cleanse the body and mind and prepare it for the year ahead.

The post 3 Strange New Years’ Eve Food Traditions from Around the World appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

The symbolic meaning of the new year is recognized around the world, and different people in different places have different ways of commemorating and celebrating the transition. One of the most interesting food-based traditions takes place in Spain.

In this Southern European country, the final 12 seconds of the “old” year are accompanied with a very curious tradition that involves grapes.

As Spaniards watch the year come to a close live, on TV, or in person at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, people put a single green grape into their mouths at each of the final 12 strokes of the clock on New Year’s Eve.

This tradition isn’t based on any type of religious ceremony or folkloric tradition, but it was actually born as a way of stimulating the grape economy in Spain. In 1909, there was a great surplus of grapes in the southeastern region of Alicante, and the grape growers created and publicized this now-classic tradition.

The 12 grapes are now said to represent good luck in the New Year and are an important part of all Spanish households’ New Year’s Eve traditions.

The post You Won’t Believe This Spanish New Year’s Food Tradition appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

Here are three of the strangest gastronomic New Years’ traditions from around the world.

Spain: 12 Grapes

In Spain, it is tradition to consume 12 grapes at the strike of the clock on New Years’ Eve. What’s so strange about this? Well, Spaniards stuff one grape into their mouth at the stroke of every second beginning at 11:59:48 until their mouths are full at midnight and they can finally eat them.

Pickled Herring: Scandinavia, Germany, and Poland

Pickled herring is made of dehydrated herring, a small fish that lives throughout the northern waters of the Atlantic, which has been marinated in a brine solution.

It might not sound appetizing, but in these Northern European cultures, eating pickled herring on New Years’ Eve is supposed to bring good fortune for the new year.

Soba Noodles: Japan

A New Years’ Eve tradition in Japan is to eat soba noodles when the clock strikes midnight on New Years’.

Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour and are usually eaten in a broth with vegetables and spices. Eating these noodles on January 1st is supposed to cleanse the body and mind and prepare it for the year ahead.

The post 3 Strange New Years’ Eve Food Traditions from Around the World appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.