What does eating 12 grapes on New Year's Eve mean? A new ritual arriving in Turkey from Latin countries!

A new New Year's Eve ritual has begun to develop in Turkey, especially among young people. According to this ritual, 12 grapes are taken on New Year's Eve and eaten one by one in a very short time. The last grape is eaten exactly at midnight, at 12:00. Some prefer to do this under the table.

WHERE AND HOW DID IT START?

This tradition exists in Latin countries and Spain. There are different rumors about exactly why it started. It is known to have begun towards the end of the 19th century.

Grapes are an important product for farmers in these countries. Spain and Chile are still among the major grape producers today. This tradition may have originated from farmers.

Spanish aristocrats used to spend their New Year's Eves eating grapes and drinking champagne. This habit may have passed from the aristocrats to the public.

THE TRADITION OF EATING GRAPES WAS FEATURED IN THE SERIES MODERN FAMILY

Followers of foreign TV series may have noticed the grape-eating tradition in the show Modern Family. The following dialogue takes place between the Colombian-born Gloria and her American husband Jay:

Gloria: Did you see the grapes?

Jay: Yes, I ate them.

Gloria: Why did you eat the grapes?

Jay: They were in a bowl, washed. I paid for them.

Gloria: They were for New Year's Eve.

Even though it is a TV show, we understand that a Latin American woman is practicing the grape-eating tradition.

HOW SHOULD THE 12 GRAPES BE EATEN?

The grapes should be as large, seedless, and fresh as possible. Raisins will not work.

You start eating the grapes one by one in the last minute of the year. You will make a wish as you eat each grape. There will be a few seconds of difference between each grape. You will eat the 12th grape exactly at midnight. There are also those who do this under the table. The 12 grapes represent the 12 months of the year.

In Spain, on New Year's Eve, church bells ring 12 times at midnight—though not in all of them. Every time a bell rings, people pop a grape into their mouths.