I love Spanish traditions, and one of my favourites is eating UVAS at MEDIANOCHE on NOCHE VIEJA (GRAPES at MIDNIGHT on NEW YEAR’S EVE. )
I’m so excited.
Tonight I’ll be going to the PLAZA together with most of the people of my town to hear the town clock (RELOJ) strike twelve midnight (MEDIANOCHE). On each CAMPANADA (stroke of the bell) everybody in the PLAZA (town square) will pop an UVA (grape) into their BOCA (mouth) with such seriousness and ceremony that it is hilarious!
By the time there have been five or six CAMPANADAS (strokes of the bell), everyones BOCA (mouth) is brimming with UVAS (grapes), but the idea is to continue stuffing until all twelve UVAS (grapes) are eaten, synchronising with the CAMPANADAS (strokes of the bell). Only then will you have BUENA SUERTE (Good Luck) for the New Year (AÑO NUEVO) [Pronunciation: ANYO NOOAYBO]
I’ll be meeting up with lots of AMIGOS (friends) and people we know, we’ll open some ‘cava’ (Spanish sparkling wine typically used in celebrations and enjoy a toast (BRINDIS) for AÑO NUEVO (New Year).
Then there will be fireworks (FUEGOS ARTIFICIALES) [literally : fires artificials] and a FIESTA (party) with MÚSICA (music) for everyone.
I know it will be great fun, as I have been following this tradition for many years now!
Would you like to join me?
We are meeting in the PLAZA at 11.30, so get your UVAS ready and peeled to make it easier to guzzle them all. ¡BUENA SUERTE! Good Luck !
Please let me know if you enjoyed reading about my plans like this.
More next time…
Some reminders:
UVA [Pronunciation: ooba] Grape
UVAS [Pronunciation: oobas] Grapes
MEDIANOCHE Midnight
NOCHE VIEJA New Year’s Eve. (Literally: Night Old)
PLAZA Town Square
RELOJ Clock
PLAZA DEL RELOJ Clock Square (Literally: Square of the Clock)
CAMPANADA Stroke of the bell
BOCA Mouth
BUENA SUERTE Good Luck
AÑO NUEVO (Pronunciation: ANYO NOOAYBO) New Year
AMIGOS Friends
BRINDIS A toast ( e.g. raising a glass of wine in celebration)
FUEGOS ARTIFICIALES Fireworks (literally : fires artificial)
FIESTA Party
MÚSICA Music
Thank you for his blog and thank you for your interest in mine. I look forward to learning from yours.
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Beautiful article, and so nicely written. You had me salivating as I read. 🙂
Wonderful tradition and thank you for sharing with us.
Happy New Year. Feliz Año Nuevo!
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Silvia, thanks for reading.
I wondered whether writing sort of in ‘Spanglish’ worked well for the Student of Spanish? Would like to know if you ended up knowing some of the target vocabulary? Would appreciate some feedback if you have time.
Regards. Marie
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Love how you construct your posts. Good luck and happy 2017!
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Thanks so much for reading, Olga.
I’m thinking of developing that style a bit more, trying to deliver vocabulary while reader is almost ‘unaware’.
Is that osmosis? Maybe subliminal?
Regards.Marie.
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Hi Barbara!
I had a lovely time, but unfortunately the Plaza was so packed that we couldn’t even move. I made lots of new friends though, so that was great.
Happy 2017 to you too.
Let’s hope for less DV this year.
( I follow the Statistics in here in Spain and they are also very depressing)
Regards . Marie.
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What a fun tradition! Here in Northern Italy we eat lentils and sausage (or shrimp) at midnight because disk-shaped food is reminiscent of coins so the more you eat the more money (and also luck) you will have in the new year. Buon Anno!
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Hi Bonnie. Thanks for comment….Lentils and sausage… sounds great fun tradition too!
Amazing how we need to find a Good Luck talismán wherever we go.
Regards. Marie.
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I hope you had a fun and joyous New Year. I hope the New Year brings you peace and Joy. Hugs, Barbara
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