A million and a half kilos of grapes will be consumed to celebrate New Year’s Eve
The custom to say goodbye to the old year with 12 grapes started around 1909, a year where there was an excellent grape harvest and so it was believed that by consuming the 12 grapes at midnight you would have luck for the year to come.
The custom, which many believe brings them luck in the grapes are eating one by one at the last 12 seconds of the year, with a wish for every grape has had many changes, but in the end eating the 12 grapes still stands still.
Most of the grapes consumed on New Years proceed from the Vinalopo (Alicante) area, thanks to the technical packaging tradition which allows the grapes to reach the end of December very fresh and ready for consumption.
The packaging allows the grape to be protected against different climatic conditions and helps the development of a softer skin as well as delay the aging process.
So whether we eat the grapes fresh, from a can, with skin, without, with seeds, or without, grapes once again will be with us to say goodbye to the old year and welcome in the new year.
Happy 2008!!
Source Terra Actualidad
Photo from Flickr from acetosa888