TikTok’s Viral ’12 Grapes’ New Year’s Trend: Luck or Just Hype?
Have your 2023 new year’s resolutions come to fruition? Did you manage to stick to your goals, or do you perhaps need more luck for the upcoming year?
If you fall into the latter, you might want to consider participating in the “12 Grapes” trend that’s currently making waves on TikTok.
Numerous viral videos on TikTok feature individuals claiming that they intend to consume 12 grapes precisely as the new year commences. This trend initially gained popularity a year ago, and many have now returned to share their experiences, attesting to the good luck it has brought them.
If you’re unclear of what this #12grapes trend is all about, let me explain.
Meaning Behind the 12 Grapes
This trend originates in Spain where people eat 12 grapes for each toll of the clock at midnight. Each grapes represents one month of the year. If one can eat all 12 grapes by the end of the final chime of the bell, it is believed to bring good luck for the year.
Additionally, it is customary to wear red undergarments while doing so.
In some countries, single people tend to sit under the tables at the stroke of midnight, sometimes while consuming the 12 grapes, in hopes of attracting their ideal partner in the new year.
Does the Actually Trend Work?
Several TikTok users have been sharing their experiences from participating in this tradition at midnight on 1 January 2023. One user shared a video recounting how her family made fun of her for following the trend.
However, it seemingly worked, as she got engaged. This video garnered an impressive 900,000 views.
On the flipside, another user posted a video, with over 1.1 million views, begrudgingly mimicking the laughter from an audio expressing that she had not found the ideal partner despite participating in the tradition.
If you’re concerned about the possibility of choking on grapes, here’s another option for you. In Colombia, there’s a tradition of sprinting around your house with a suitcase in hand to usher in a year of travel.
However, if you plan to watch the Marina Bay countdown, eating 12 grapes under a table or running around with a suitcase in that crowded area might not be feasible—unless you’re feeling exceptionally adventurous.
In that case, there’s another tradition to consider. You can choose to follow Brazil’s custom of wearing white on New Year’s Eve, believed to welcome spiritual protection and peace in the coming year
That being said, if you catch anyone in white clothes, eating 12 grapes under a table with a suitcase next to her… please mind your own business.