Culture / Fun Facts

Twelve Grapes at Midnight

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Spain has a very unique and important New Year’s Eve tradition. During New Year’s Eve, this tradition is very closely and strictly observed. The Spanish will watch the clock very carefully on New Year’s Eve and wait for it to strike midnight. As soon as the clock strikes midnight, the Spanish will eat 12 grapes, which means that the new year has officially begun. The grapes must be eaten as quickly as possible. It is believed that it will bring luck and prosperity in the next year if the grapes are eaten quickly.

스페인은 매우 독특하고 중요한 새해 전야 전통을 갖고 있다. 새해 전날 이 전통을 아주 가까이서 엄격하게 관찰한다. 스페인 사람들은 새해 전날에 시계를 아주 열심히 보면서 시계가 12시가 되기를 기다린다. 시계가 자정을 치자마자 스페인 사람들은 12개의 포도를 먹는데, 이것은 공식적으로 새해가 시작되었음을 의미한다.
포도는 가능한 한 빨리 먹어야 한다. 포도를 빨리 먹으면 다음 해에는 행운과 번영이 따를 것이라는 믿음이 있기 때문이다.

Vocabulary Corner

unique tradition closely strictly observe carefully strike midnight as soon as officially as quickly as possible luck prosperity

단어를 선택해주세요.

독특한

전통

자세히

엄격하게

관찰하다

신중하게

(시간을 알리기위해 시계가)치다

자정

~하자마자

공식적으로

가능한 빨리

행운

번영

Q & A

Vocabulary

Q. Are there any special New Year’s New tradition from your culture?

A. There are two New Year’s Eve traditions that my family practices in the United States. The first one is, we will always open our front door a few minutes before the clock strikes midnight. This is to welcome the new year into our lives. The idea is that if you do, you welcome all the wonderful things that the new year has to bring. The second tradition that we practice is for married couples or single people of marriageable age. Every single person of marriageable age has to kiss someone as soon as the clock strikes midnight. The belief is that they will find love in the new year if they do. Many single people actually keep their fingers crossed that they will find love in the new year after they kiss someone. At family New Year’s Eve parties, they can kiss little children on the lips and it will still count, but they have to find a child who is willing to kiss them first. It is always so much fun to see them chase the children who are running away just to kiss one at midnight! For married couples or boyfriends and girlfriends, they can look forward to more love and passion if they kiss at midnight. Whether you believe it or not, both are fun traditions to follow.

marriageable age belief actually count be willing to chase run away look forward to passion

단어를 선택해주세요.

혼기

믿음

실제로

중요하다

흔쾌히~하다

쫓아다니다

도망가다

학수고대하다

열정

Useful expression

keep fingers crossed 행운을 빌다.

My mother is keeping her fingers crossed that my older sister will find a boyfriend this year. 엄마는 언니가 올해에는 꼭 남친을 만들 수 있도록 행운을 빌었다.
Please keep your fingers crossed that I will get the job from my interview tomorrow. 내일 면접 잘 볼 수 있도록 행운을 빌어주세요.
The farmers are keeping their fingers crossed for rain. 농부는 비가 내리기를 간절히 바랬다.

unique	독특한
tradition	전통
closely	자세히
strictly	엄격하게
observe	관찰하다
carefully	신중하게
strike	(시간을 알리기위해 시계가)치다
midnight	자정
as soon as	~하자마자
officially	공식적으로
as quickly as possible	가능한 빨리
luck	행운
prosperity	번영
marriageable age	혼기
belief	믿음
actually	실제로
count	중요하다
be willing to	흔쾌히~하다
chase	쫓아다니다
run away	도망가다
look forward to	학수고대하다
passion	열정

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