12 grapes under the table ritual: The New Year’s eve trend taking over 2026 promises love and luck? What you need to know

A new Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve has taken the internet by storm. On New Year's Eve, many people follow this tradition that dates back to 19th-century Spain. In Spanish, it's known as uvas de la suerte, or "lucky grapes." Over time, the tradition is now followed by people when people eat one grape at each chime as the clock strikes midnight, each grape representing a month of the coming year. It is believed if you finish all twelve in time, you'll have good luck; if you fail, you won't be quite so fortunate.

This fun trend has gained attention on social media where you see people eating 12 green grapes under the table at midnight to manifest love, luck, and prosperity for the year ahead. Many women have also shared their videos on social media claiming they tried this trend last New Yea's and found their partner, thus urging people to give it a try in 2026. But this isn't just a social media trend. In fact, it is also a beloved Spanish tradition for New Year Eve.

Eating 12 grapes at midnight to ring in the new year is a Spanish tradition that dates back hundreds of years, according to Vogue. It is practiced across the Caribbean, South America, and other Hispanic and Latine countries, too. Each grape represents 12 resolutions or wishes for the new year. Whether it be to lose weight, find love, or find a new job, eating the grapes at midnight will help people accomplish that, or so they say.


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Eating 12 grapes under the table ritual explained

The 'twelve grapes of Luck', also known as "Las Doce Uvas de la Suerte" started in the late 1800s in Madrid, according to a report in Times of India. As the Puerta del Sol clock strikes midnight on December 31, families across Spain gathered around their televisions, eating one grape with each of the 12 chimes—one for every month of the coming year. It is widely believed that eating all 12 grapes before the final chime brings good luck, health, love, and prosperity. Miss a grape, legend warns, and the year ahead may not go smoothly. What began as a clever marketing idea has since evolved into a cherished and widely followed New Year’s Eve tradition.

Now, the ritual has taken a viral turn. Social media has added a fun twist: eating the grapes while sitting under the dining table to “boost” luck. Each grape still symbolises a month of the year, but participants now whisper their wishes as they eat, hoping the extra secrecy will amplify their intentions for the year ahead.

Actress Kathryn Bernardo was also reportedly caught on cam eating grapes last year under the table as part of their New Year tradition to welcome 2025. Her mother Min Bernardo shared the moment in her Instagram post.



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"praying that eating 12 grapes under the table will work this year �� grapes in my name.. has to be a sign," wrote an X user. "almost died trying to shove a dozen shine muscat grapes down my throat while crouched under a table at the stroke of midnight. sure i could’ve chosen a smaller grape variety and spared myself some suffering but these were too delicious to resist :)," wrote another. "I ate my grapes under the table & 1 part of my manifestation already came true," another social media user wrote.

Not just on social media, even in the popular show 'Modern Family', Gloria tells her son Manny how eating 12 grapes turned her life around: from being a single mom in poverty to being married to a wealthy man. Fans love these stories, and viral posts echo it: "Did it last year, met my soulmate!" While science doesn't prove it, the rush builds excitement, priming you to spot opportunities.