New Year's Eve (nochevieja) in Spain is a time for a partying just like in any other country in the world and it's also a time to spend with your family. There is an ancient tradition which dates back about 100 years and was started by some farmers who had too many grapes left after the harvest. They decided to eat 12 grapes, 1 at a time, each time the clock chimed at midnight. Since then, it's become a custom to do this and it's believed that if you don't, you will have bad luck for the next year.
All the Spanish TV stations show the same celebration which takes place in Puerta del Sol, Madrid. The presenters do a countdown (just before the actual chimes of the clock there are 4 higher pitched chimes which are known as “los cuatros” (the 4) and these announce the start of the actual chimes) and then everyone starts to eat the first grape, the next and so on at each of the chimes until all the 12 grapes have been eaten (often you're left with a mouthful of grapes as it's very hard to eat 12 grapes in such a short time). For each grape eaten it's believed to bring 1 month of good luck.
After eating the grapes, the parties start in earnest and often go on until about 6am. Even the children are allowed to stay up and celebrate as it's such a special time of year for the whole family.
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