> In Spain, as the clock counts down on New Year's Eve, people stuff 12 of whichobject into their mouths for good luck?And the answer: grapes. Xarel lo grapes used to make Spanish Cava. Photo courtesy: batega[https://www.flickr.com/photos/10488545@N05].Eating 12 grapes at midnight, onefor each stroke of the clock, is a tradition in Spain. Known as "the 12 luckygrapes," the practice is thought to bring good luck for the new year.While in many countries the tolling of midnight's bells brings affectionatecelebrations of the new year, Spain practices several, well, specific traditions. The origins of the 12 lucky grapes date back about a century to asurplus year for grape production in Spain. It's said that grape farmers in theearly 1900s marketed their grapes for the holiday in an attempt to sell thewhole batch. Some say that the tradition began even further back, when Madridelites in the 1880s looked to replicate the French custom of grapes andchampagne on New Year's Eve. Regardless of its origins, eating a grape as each bell tolls is not as easy atask as one might assume. The grapes are nearly always seeded, yet there ishardly time for more than one chomp before each stroke of the clock. Grapeexperts and locals report that the only surefire way to get down each grapebefore the last stroke of midnight is a firm bite and swallow technique – seedsand all. As if eating 12 midnight grapes wasn't enough, Spaniards practice several otherinteresting New Year's Eve traditions, including wearing the good luck charm of ropa interior – AKA red undergarment. It's believed that wearing red underthingson New Year's Eve will increase your chances of finding love in the new year.Supposedly, it summons the goodwill of the god of love and desire, Cupid. Finally, before the ringing of the bell summons the New Year's toast, make sureto fill your glass of champagne and drop into it a gold ring (just make sure notto swallow it). This Spanish tradition brings in good fortune (and real fortune– cha-ching!) in the new year.