There are many different ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve, or Nochevieja which means ‘The Old Night’ in Spain, but there is just one tradition which everyone takes part in. If you want to be part of this custom you must buy 12 grapes and be ready to eat them when the clock strikes midnight. If you can eat one grape per chime you can look forward to a year of happiness and luck. Spanish people usually eat the 12 grapes at home with their families or go to one of the main city squares.

On new year’s eve in Spain once Spaniards have had dinner with their family or friends, they start preparing for midnight, making sure that they have twelve grapes each, as well as a glass of Cava to welcome in the New Year.

On new years eve in Spain when the clock strikes midnight it is customary to eat one grape per chime while trying to follow the rhythm and not to laugh too much.

After the grape eating, most young people attend New Year parties - cotillones de nochevieja - at pubs or discos.

Others prefer to go to a main square to celebrate New Years Eve in the street - the liveliest of all is reputedly Pun del Sal, in Madrid. Early next morning, the party-goers enjoy a breakfast of chocolate con churros (hot chocolate and filed pastry).

Tradition states that wearing red underwear brings good luck for the year as long as it’s been bought for you by someone else.