New Year Tradition in Spain
Spanish people celebrate the New Year with great warmth
and gusto (pleasure, excitement, enthusiasm). Lots of food,
drinks, song, dance and gifts add festivity and fun to the New
Year celebration in Spain. The streets are beautifully lit, shops
display all kinds of holiday merchandise and friends and family
participate in festive parties dressed in thick woollies to combat
the chilly December night. New Year traditions in Spain reflect
the cultural heritage of the Spanish people. Have a look at
some unique New Year traditions in Spain.
New Year’s Eve in Spain is know as Noche Vieja (Old
Night). It is a custom to stay at home till midnight and at
midnight people eat doce uvas (twelve grapes), one at each
stroke of the clock. This is supposed to bring good luck,
prosperity, and happiness in el Año Nuevo (the New Year). In
main cities people congregate in the plaza central (main
square). In Madrid people gather in the Puerta del Sol and eat
the grapes. Then they dance the night until the early hours in
the morning.
There is a tradition in Spain to host a children’s parade on
January 5 or Día de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day).
Children come to see the parade and ask for gifts from the
people who are dressed as three Kings Menchior, Gaspar and
Balthasar. Later, before going to bed, children leave their
shoes or dinner plate out hoping that when they wake up they
will find gifts left by. A typical New Year dessert consists of
Roscón de los Reyes. This is a large ring shaped cake that is
decorated with candied fruits. There are some surprises hidden
inside the cake and the person who unravels the surprise is
crowned as king or queen of the household.