TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, many people around the world partake in a tradition believed to bring good fortune throughout the coming year. For some families, the ritual involves a simple but significant act: eating 12 grapes in the span of one minute.
The custom, which dates back to 19th-century Spain, involves placing 12 grapes—one for each month of the year—into a cup. At the stroke of midnight, participants are meant to eat each grape, one by one, within 60 seconds. The goal is to secure good fortune for the upcoming year.
Joelle Quijada and her family pour wine or sparkling cider in each cup filled with grapes before consuming it. Their ritual often results in a race to finish the grapes…