The grape, the edible fruit of the vine, is the main culinary element of New Year's Eve in Catalonia. With no previous preparation, it is traditional to welcome in the New Year with 12 fruits, which are eaten at the same time as the chimes that mark the 12 last seconds of the year that is finishing. This ritual normally takes place at home, with family and friends after a good meal, although in some places the people gather in front of the clock in the church or town hall, to start the year all together.

This tradition came from Madrid in 1909, after a season of an exceptional grape harvest. To be able to sell all the production, they invented this ritual of accompanying the last seconds of the year with the grapes, and it became the beleif that it brought good luck.  The custom has survived to the present day, and is now so deeply rooted that the vast majority of Catalan homes could not think about holding the celebration without grapes.