Grapes: There are little customs associated with each New Year. Others burn candles, make resolutions, or go outdoors to watch fireworks. Of course, there is also the custom of eating the twelve grapes that are put beneath the table at midnight every December. This custom is subtle and a little mysterious.

At first, it is the subject of lighthearted, almost comical tales. But for a lot of others, it’s really a pause, a hopeful gesture wrapped in curiosity and superstition. Therefore, it is still unclear what the 12 grapes beneath the table custom is and why people adhere to it.

According to the table rules, what are the 12 grapes?

Part of the ritual’s allure is its simplicity. On New Year’s Eve, you sit underneath a table and have twelve grapes—one for each month of the next year—as the clock strikes midnight.

For the next months, each grape is supposed to symbolize a want, a goal, or an intention: love, health, peace, growth, clarity, and joy. Some folks use each grape to softly express a wish. Others focus on one major goal and believe everything else will work itself out.

It doesn’t matter what sort of grapes you use or how quickly you consume them. Any color you have at home will work, whether it’s red, black, or green. People argue that the purpose is what counts.

On New Year’s Eve, why should you have grapes beneath the table?

This is the portion that usually makes people grin and raise their eyebrows. It is believed that sitting under the table represents humility, bringing oneself to a state of simplicity and establishing a foundation for the year. In more contemporary interpretations, it’s also seen as a means of temporarily distancing oneself from distractions, noise, and expectations.

It’s playful to some. Others find such a time to have an eerie calming effect, a period of temporary relief among festivities and countdowns.

Where did the custom of the twelve grapes originate?

It is believed that this custom originated in Spain, where for more than a century people have been commemorating the chimes of the clock by eating one grape at a time, and then eating twelve grapes at midnight. The custom took in several shapes as it progressively expanded to different locations.

A more recent variation, the “under the table” version is often linked to attracting love or emotional clarity in the next year. The ceremony keeps growing because it provides people something straightforward to believe in, even if there is no historical manual supporting it.

What they think the ceremony delivers

The ritual’s adherents claim that it’s more about mentality than superstition. It’s a method of starting the new year with purpose rather than scurrying through it.

According to some, it brings:

Best of luck and optimism

Clarity of emotion

Love and deep relationships

A feeling of serenity and concentration

Does the custom of placing 12 grapes beneath the table really work?

It has no scientific basis. No assurances either. However, it isn’t really the purpose. Rituals are effective because they allow us to stop, think, and hope—not because they guarantee results. And sometimes that’s sufficient.

Intention is the theme of the twelve grapes beneath the table ceremony. About having faith, even for a short time, that wonderful things will come your way. If nothing else, it offers you a delightful, unforgettable way to start the new year.