New Year's Eve in Barcelona. Let's begin with the classics. The twelve grapes at midnight. A pervasive practice throughout Spain. So ubiquitous in fact that the majority think the popular ritual goes back to pagan times, but its roots are actually quite modern and represent a selling wonder.
1909 was a massive harvest year for Spanish winemakers, and a group of savvy businessmen came up with an inventive plan to sell their excess grapes. Listen up, everyone! Grapes are good luck! It succeeded beyond all expectations...and turned out to be such a laugh that folk welcomed it as part of their annual New Year's Eve traditions. Nowadays it is impossible to imagine New Year's Eve in Spain without a handful ( and mouthful ) of grapes.
Eating the grapes is done in myriad ways : folks gather in public squares or location barcelone ( Plaza Catalunya and the Torre Agbar are local favourites ) or around a radio or television set and wait for the countdown to midnight. Before the countdown starts, everyone seems to be given twelve grapes, which are eaten, one at a time, to happen at the same time as the bells. If you are new to this convention, two words of advice : seedless grapes! Eating the grapes on the street is less commonly found in Barcelona than in other bits of Spain.
Though people do gather in city squares, most locals wish to eat the grapes at home or at a party. For the fourth year in a row, the chimes will be broadcast by TV3 and Catalunya Rdio from the classic Agbar Tower. The event is a 21st century version of the traditional church bells, employing a flashy, decorative light show and electronic music to bring in the New Year.
One thing you won't see is an official fireworks display. Unlike the other towns, Barcelona hasn't got a tradition of New Year's Eve fireworks ( they give you three night's worth during La Merc instead ). You might see some here and there, as well as plenty of firecrackers, but anyone expecting a grand fireworks extravaganza will be disappointed.
Many restaurants offer special dinner menus on New Year's Eve, and almost all of the upscale parties include dinner and grapes. Folks choosing dinner at home or location appartement barcelone sometimes leave the house straight after midnight. As far as parties go, Barcelona is a place that deals with just about every preference, from classy balls to mega-parties at sports arenas to non-public affairs.
The classic event is the gala dinner and ball - called a cotilln in Spanish - customarily held at swank hotels, an elegant evening of cava ( Catalan bubbly ), beautiful dining, cocktails, dancing and - for the die-hard night owls - churros ( a type of fried pastry ) and chocolate at dawn. Getting around is no problem : the underground, FGC trains and night buses run all night on New Year's Eve.
ultimately the five Jan, the evening before twelfth Night ( Epiphany, 6 January ) the Thee Kings ( or three sensible Men of the New Testament ) arrive by ship at the waterfront of Barcelona ( Moll de la Fusta ) to be greeted by the Mayor of the city and conducted to the nearby park of Ciutadella. From there the 3 Kings depart in their carriages, the principal part of a grand parade that proceeds slowly through the streets and avenues of the centre towards the Olympic Stadium. The Kings and other participators in the parade throw barley sugar candy and other sweets to the kids lining the route. - 31515
1909 was a massive harvest year for Spanish winemakers, and a group of savvy businessmen came up with an inventive plan to sell their excess grapes. Listen up, everyone! Grapes are good luck! It succeeded beyond all expectations...and turned out to be such a laugh that folk welcomed it as part of their annual New Year's Eve traditions. Nowadays it is impossible to imagine New Year's Eve in Spain without a handful ( and mouthful ) of grapes.
Eating the grapes is done in myriad ways : folks gather in public squares or location barcelone ( Plaza Catalunya and the Torre Agbar are local favourites ) or around a radio or television set and wait for the countdown to midnight. Before the countdown starts, everyone seems to be given twelve grapes, which are eaten, one at a time, to happen at the same time as the bells. If you are new to this convention, two words of advice : seedless grapes! Eating the grapes on the street is less commonly found in Barcelona than in other bits of Spain.
Though people do gather in city squares, most locals wish to eat the grapes at home or at a party. For the fourth year in a row, the chimes will be broadcast by TV3 and Catalunya Rdio from the classic Agbar Tower. The event is a 21st century version of the traditional church bells, employing a flashy, decorative light show and electronic music to bring in the New Year.
One thing you won't see is an official fireworks display. Unlike the other towns, Barcelona hasn't got a tradition of New Year's Eve fireworks ( they give you three night's worth during La Merc instead ). You might see some here and there, as well as plenty of firecrackers, but anyone expecting a grand fireworks extravaganza will be disappointed.
Many restaurants offer special dinner menus on New Year's Eve, and almost all of the upscale parties include dinner and grapes. Folks choosing dinner at home or location appartement barcelone sometimes leave the house straight after midnight. As far as parties go, Barcelona is a place that deals with just about every preference, from classy balls to mega-parties at sports arenas to non-public affairs.
The classic event is the gala dinner and ball - called a cotilln in Spanish - customarily held at swank hotels, an elegant evening of cava ( Catalan bubbly ), beautiful dining, cocktails, dancing and - for the die-hard night owls - churros ( a type of fried pastry ) and chocolate at dawn. Getting around is no problem : the underground, FGC trains and night buses run all night on New Year's Eve.
ultimately the five Jan, the evening before twelfth Night ( Epiphany, 6 January ) the Thee Kings ( or three sensible Men of the New Testament ) arrive by ship at the waterfront of Barcelona ( Moll de la Fusta ) to be greeted by the Mayor of the city and conducted to the nearby park of Ciutadella. From there the 3 Kings depart in their carriages, the principal part of a grand parade that proceeds slowly through the streets and avenues of the centre towards the Olympic Stadium. The Kings and other participators in the parade throw barley sugar candy and other sweets to the kids lining the route. - 31515
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