If you’re spending New Year’s Eve in Spain, get ready, because here it’s not just about making a toast and calling it a night. Spanish Nochevieja is packed with rituals, superstitions, and traditions that mix laughter, nerves, and a lot of excitement to start the year on the right foot.

Whether you’re new to the country or just curious, here’s a guide to what people do on New Year’s Eve in Spain and the rituals you definitely shouldn’t skip.

What do people do on New Year’s Eve in Spain?

The night of December 31st usually starts with a (more or less) relaxed dinner with friends or family. But the real moment of truth arrives at midnight, when everyone focuses on the clock, at home or in iconic places like Puerta del Sol, to survive the famous chimes.

After that… party time. Lots of party time. In Spain, it’s very common to go out to a cotillón, hit the clubs, or keep the night going for as long as your energy lasts.

What are the New Year’s traditions in Spain?

The most famous (and stressful) one: eating the 12 lucky grapes. One grape per chime, one wish for each month. Spoiler alert: nobody does it perfectly. Sometimes the chimes are already in June and you’re still stuck on April’s grapes—but that also counts as tradition.

Another classic is wearing red underwear to attract love (or at least try). That said, legend has it that it should be a gift… although most of us bend the rules a little.

What are some New Year’s rituals?

Besides the grapes, these New Year’s rituals in Spain are very popular:

• Making a toast right at midnight with cava.
  
  
• Wearing something new to start the year with a “new look, new life” mindset.
  
  
• Putting a coin in your glass to attract money.
  
  
• Opening doors or windows to let go of the bad energy from the old year.
  
  

Does it work? No one really knows. Is it fun? Absolutely.

What do Spaniards drink on December 31st?

The star of the night is cava, but there’s also wine, cocktails, and whatever else shows up as the night goes on. Everything is usually paired with traditional sweets like turrón, polvorones, and chocolate, because starting the year on a diet is definitely optional.

No matter how you celebrate, grapes, cava, friends, music, or a cozy night at home, the most important thing is to start the year with hope, surround yourself with good energy, and hold on to everything good that’s coming.

Happy New Year to everyone. May it be filled with luck, joy, and amazing plans yet to be lived.