Barcelona is great for New Year’s Eve

Let’s commence with the classics. The 12 grapes at midnight. A ubiquitous practice thru Spain. So ubiquitous in fact that the majority think the popular ritual dates back to pagan times, but its roots are essentially quite modern and represent a promoting marvel.

1909 was a big harvest year for Spanish winemakers, and a grouping of savvy businessmen came up with a creative plan to sell their excess grapes. Listen up, everyone! Grapes are good luck! It succeeded beyond all expectations…and turned out to be such a laugh that people welcomed it as part of their annual New Year’s Eve customs. Today it is impossible to imagine New Year’s Eve in Spain without a smattering ( and mouthful ) of grapes.

Eating the grapes is done in myriad techniques : people gather in public squares or location barcelone ( Plaza Catalunya and the Torre Agbar are local favorites ) or around a radio or television set and wait for the countdown to midnight. Before the countdown begins, everyone is given twelve grapes, which are eaten, one at a time, to synchronize with the chimes. If you’re new to this tradition, 2 words of advice : seedless grapes! Eating the grapes in the street is less commonly found in Barcelona than in other parts of Spain.

Eating the grapes is done in numerous ways : people gather in public squares or location barcelone ( Plaza Catalunya and the Torre Agbar are local favourites ) or around a radio or TV set and wait for the countdown to midnight. Before the countdown starts, most are given twelve grapes, which are eaten, one at a time, to coincide with the chimes. If you’re new to this convention, 2 words of advice : seedless grapes! Eating the grapes at streetlevel is less commonly found in Barcelona than in other parts of Spain.

One thing you will not see is an official fireworks display. Unlike other towns, Barcelona hasn’t got a tradition of New Year’s Eve fireworks ( they give you 3 night’s worth during La Merc instead ). You might see one or two here and there, as well as plenty of firecrackers, but anyone expecting a grand fireworks extravaganza will be disappointed.

Many eateries offer special dinner menus on New Year’s Eve, and most of the upscale parties include dinner and grapes. People choosing dinner at home or location appartement barcelone sometimes leave the house right after midnight. As far as parties go, Barcelona is a place that caters to virtually every preference, from sublime balls to mega-parties at sports arenas to personal affairs.

The classic event is the gala dinner and ball – called a cotilln in Spanish – typically held at swank hostels, a sublime evening of cava ( Catalan bubbly ), exquisite dining, cocktails, dancing and – for the die-hard night owls – churros ( a variety of fried pastry ) and chocolate at dawn. Getting around is no problem : the underground, FGC trains and night buses run all night on New Year’s Eve.

Ultimately the five January, the evening before twelfth Night ( Epiphany, six January ) the Thee Kings ( or 3 Men of the New Testament ) arrive by ship at the waterfront of Barcelona ( Moll de la Fusta ) to be welcomed by the Mayor of the town and conducted to the nearby park of Ciutadella. From there the three Kings depart in their carriages, the principal part of a grand parade that proceeds slowly through the streets and avenues of the centre towards the Olympic Stadium. The Kings and other partakers in the parade throw barley sugar candy and other candy to the children lining the route.

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