Every New Year comes with its own little rituals. Some people write resolutions, some light candles, some step outside to watch fireworks. And then, of course, there is this tradition, a gentle and slightly mysterious one, which pops up every December, and it is to eat the grapes placed under the table at midnight, and there are 12 of them.
It is the stuff of playful, almost laughable anecdotes at first. But for so many, it is instead a pause, a gesture of hope cloaked in superstition and curiosity. Thus, the question remains: what is the 12 grapes under the table tradition, and what makes people believe in the tradition?
What are the 12 grapes under the table rules?
The ritual is simple, which is part of its charm. As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, you sit under a table and eat 12 grapes, one for each month of the coming year.
Each grape is meant to represent a wish, a hope, or an intention for the months ahead: love, health, peace, growth, clarity, joy. Some people silently make a wish with every grape. Others think of one big desire and trust the rest to fall into place.
There are no strict rules about how fast you eat them or what kind of grapes you use. Green, black, red, whatever you have at home works just fine. What matters, people say, is the intention.
Why should you have grapes under the table on New Year?
This is the part that often raises eyebrows and smiles. Sitting under the table is said to symbolise humility, grounding and starting the year from a place of simplicity. In more modern interpretations, it’s also seen as a way to disconnect from noise, expectations and distractions, even if just for a minute.
Some people find it playful. To others, such a moment has an uncanny soothing effect, a brief respite in the midst of countdowns and celebrations.
From where did the 12 grapes tradition develop?
That tradition is said to have its birth in Spain, where people have been consuming 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight, marking the chimes of the clock by taking one grape at a time for over a century. The tradition gradually spread to other places, taking on diverse forms.
The “under the table” version is a newer twist, often associated with manifesting love or emotional clarity in the coming year. While there’s no historical rulebook backing it, the ritual continues to grow because it gives people something simple to believe in.
What people believe the ritual brings
Those who follow the ritual say it’s less about superstition and more about mindset. It’s a way of entering the new year with intention instead of rushing through it.
Some believe it brings:
- Good luck and positivity
- Emotional clarity
- Love and meaningful connections
- A sense of calm and focus
Does the 12 grapes under the table ritual really work?
There’s no science behind it. No guarantees either. But that’s not really the point. As rituals work not because they promise us outcomes, but because they give us a moment to pause, reflect, and hope. And sometimes, that's enough.
The 12 grapes under the table ritual is about intention. About believing, even briefly, that good things can find their way to you. And if nothing else, it gives you a sweet, memorable way to welcome a new year.
Also read: From 12 grapes to red underwear: New Year traditions from across the world
