Travel Tips

New Year’s Eve in Barcelona. Let’s commence with the classics. The twelve grapes at midnight. A ubiquitous convention thru Spain. So pervasive in fact that most people think the popular ritual goes back to pagan times, but its roots are actually quite modern and constitute apromoting wonder. 1909 was a massive crop year for Spanish winemakers, and a bunch of savvy businessmen came up with acreative 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 people embraced it as a part of their annual New Year’s Eve practices. Nowadays itis not possible to imagine New Year’s Eve in Spain without ascattering ( and mouthful ) of grapes. Look for location barcelone to spend your holidays in the Catalan city.
Eating the grapes is done in innumerable techniques : folk gather in public squares or location barcelone ( Plaza Catalunya and the Torre Agbar are local tops ) or around a radio or television set and wait for the countdown to midnight. Before the countdown begins, everyone seems to be given twelve grapes, which are eaten, one at a time, to coincide with the chimes. If youare new to this custom, 2 words of advice : seedless grapes! Eating the grapes on the street is less common in Barcelona than in other parts of Spain. Though folks do gather in city squares, most neighbors like 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 conventional church bells, employing a flashy, decorative light show and electronic music to bring in the New Year.
One thing you will not see is an official fireworks display. Unlike any other towns, Barcelona doesn’t have a tradition of New Year’s Eve fireworks ( they give you 3 night’s worth during La Merc instead ). You might see one or two here and there, as well as lots of firecrackers, but anyone expecting a grand fireworks spectacular will be disappointed.
Many eateries offer special dinner menus on New Year’s Eve, and most of the upscale parties include dinner and grapes. People choosing dinner at home or location appartement barcelone sometimes leave the house right after midnight. As far as parties go, Barcelona is a place that tends to virtually every preference, from sublime balls to mega-parties at sports arenas to private affairs. The classic event is the gala dinner and ball – called a cotilln in Spanish – usually held at swank hostels, a sublime evening of cava ( Catalan bubbly ), beautiful dining, cocktails, dancing and – for the die-hard night owls – churros ( a variety 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.

eventually the 5 January, the evening before twelfth Night ( Epiphany, six January ) the Thee Kings ( or 3 smart Men of the New Testament ) arrive by boat at the waterfront of Barcelona ( Moll de la Fusta ) to be welcomed 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 thru the streets and avenues of the centre towards the Olympic Stadium. The Kings and other partakers in the parade throw barley sugar candy and other candy to the youngsters lining the route.

Book your location appartement barcelone to spend your holidays in Barcelona.

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