Why do spanish eat 12 grapes on 31th dec at 12:00 AM

Nochebuena y Nochevieja

Have you ever heard this two words: Nochebuena y Nochevieja. If you have any friend from Spain or Latin America, then, sure, you have heard these words. 

Nochebuena is for Christmas day night and Nochevieja is for 31st december night. 

On 31st december night people do celebration for saying bye bye to a year and welcoming the next year. 

In Spain people organize dinner party with family and friends. In dinner party people enjoy different taesty foods and wines. 

In few homes in Spain, people do exchange of gifts too on 31st night. 

As clock is moving towards 12 AM, people become more excited because 12 AM is time to follow a spanish tradition. The tradition is to eat 12 grapes in a period of 12 bells of seconds which will ring in next 12 seconds from 12 AM. On each bell ring, people eat 1 grape. 

Nevertheless, it needs carefull eating of 12 grapes in very sort period to avoid grape stucking problem inside mouth, throat, gut etc. 

Now what is the history behind this tradition. I talked with one of my friends, who is native of Spain, in this regard. 

Climate of Spain is in favor of the grape cultivation. Many products based on grapes are available in spanish market. Grape consumption is very high in spanish family. In many villages, each family has bodega (Underground Wine Storage Room). 

Bodega is an underground store room on mountain in outer area of the village. It can be called natural freezer. Bodega is normally for storing wine prepared from grapes and packed in bottles (Home Fabrication of Wine). Besides, many wine production companies specialized for producing wines from grapes are available in the market. 

Thus, in Spain, farmers do grape cultivation in a very large quantity. Grape production is a traditional farming. Spanish farmers are perforing it from many years. 

One year, in initial years of ninteen centuary, in the Spanish province 'Alicante' farmers faced overproductions of grapes. Tons of grapes were in fields of farmers but there were no purchagers. This created economic problems for farmers of 'Alicante' province. At last they promoted an event of eating of 12 grapes at 12 AM night on 31st december. The Spanish king of that time supported them in promotion. 

Nevertheless, evidences exist showing for elite spanish of Madrid city were organizing such event from mid eighteen centuary. 

Moreover, now it becomes a popular spanish tradition of each house in Spain.  

Now we calculate about consumption. Suppose that a family has 4 members. Then, 4 x12= 48 grapes i.e. lets consider it is 1/2 kg. If there is 20 families living in a building, then 20 x 1/2 kg = 10 kg. One building is consuming 10 kg of.grapes. If there is 20 buildings on a street, then, 20 x 10 kg = 200 kg. Consuption of 200 kg grapes on each street is a good quantity to promote grape cultivation. 

In addition, the price of each kg of grape during last week of december is very high. Because each family has to buy for following spanish tradition. This is a good business opportunity, and, finally, earnings for spanish farmers.