New Year
Description:
New Year's Eve (Noche vieja) Spaniards meet not at home, but, most often, on filled festive streets, in bars and restaurants, at discos and folk festivals.
After a festive dinner with the family, the Spaniards go to the main city square, in Madrid, this is the Solar Gate (Plaza Puerta del Sol), where under the clock, according to almost a century-old tradition, eat 12 grapes, each of which symbolizes a successful coming month. You have to eat a grape every three seconds after the clock hits. At the same time, you still need to have time to spit out the bones before the battle of the clock ends.
It is believed that New Year grapes bring good luck and drive away evil spirits. The battle of the clock and views of the festive square are broadcast on television and those who could not or did not want to come to the square eat grapes after the host of the festive broadcast at the table.
Another, rather young tradition - dressing for the holiday of red underwear (cowards, socks, garters).
And, of course, in the country of wine on the New Year, wine is the most consumed drink. If at the beginning of the last century, not very wealthy families drank wine or liqueurs on New Year’s Eve, and only Catalans or wealthy people could afford a bottle of Cava, today the tradition of uncorking a bottle of Spanish champagne has become firmly in vogue among all segments of the population.
Is it worth mentioning fireworks, fireworks, firecrackers and firecrackers, if the love of the Spaniards for the festive roar speaks better than any words the annual festival of Fallas, held in Valencia, during which the city lives exactly on a volcano? On New Year’s Eve, the whole of Spain shines with numerous fireworks, lights of garlands and smiles of those celebrating.