New Year is one of the most important festivals in Spain. It is celebrated with lots of pomp and grandeur. New Year in Spain is more commonly known as 'Nochevieja'. A number of Spanish New Year traditions are associated with New Year. It is mostly celebrated among the Spanish families. After celebrating the stoke of midnight, people visit the places of their near and dear ones. Given below are some popular New Year customs in Spain:

During the New Year eve, Spanish people tend to stay in their houses with their family members. They do stay at home until midnight, even the young people also stay home until the midnight. It is a tradition to eat twelve grapes on every stroke of clock when it approaches New Year. It is thought that every grape brings good luck for every month of the New Year. It is an ancient Spanish, initiated by the King of Spain. The King of Spain would give grapes to eat on the occasion of New Year after the grape harvest took place.

A popular New Year custom in Spain is preparing a special cake for midnight. When the clock strokes at 12 O'clock, the cake is cut. Generally, the New Year is shaped as a big ring. Before baking the cake, the cook places some good luck charms and gifts inside the cake. The people, who get these goodies, are considered lucky for the next year.

Another popular Spanish New Year tradition is Madrid Puerta del Sol. Traditionally, the Spanish people listen to the beating of clock of Puerta del Sol, Madrid through TV. None leaves home without listening to the strokes of the clock.

After midnight, people go out and enjoy New Year with their friends. A number of parties have been organized in nightclubs, pubs, restaurants, and hotels. The hotel and clubs authorities provide plenty of attractions for the visitors.

Another sought after custom is wearing red innerwear. Everyone wants to wear a red innerwear on New Year eve, which is thought to bring good luck. However, the according to the popular Spanish New Year traditions, the innerwear should be bought or gifted by someone else.

Traditional Spanish New Year dancing is also very important part of New Year celebrations. In big cities such as Barcelona and Madrid, people come out on the streets on midnight and they spend the New Year by dancing with the crowd. As per the Spanish New Year customs, people appear in bright and colorful dresses and dance on the streets. During the merriment and celebrations as Spanish New Year traditions, lots of fireworks and firecrackers are lit up.

More New Year Traditions