I've been three years without eating the twelve grapes the way I'm supposed to, and this year I want to do it right. My grandmother always used to tell me stories about this but she never explained to me where the tradition came from.
The tradition comes from the late 19th century in Spain, when there was an overproduction of grapes and winemakers from Alicante decided to promote their consumption as something festive for New Year's Eve. It became hugely popular starting in 1909 when newspapers began making fun of Madrileños who tried to eat twelve grapes to the rhythm of the bells at the Puerta del Sol, and people loved the idea. So basically it was an invention of agricultural marketing that turned into a tradition, though it's pretty Spanish and they don't have it the same way in other countries. This year if you do it, it'll be easier for you if you practice a bit beforehand or if you get familiar with the rhythm of the bells.
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