New Year is definitely a very special celebration for all the world and maybe the best nights of the year. Barcelona is a very festive city so it is a great destination. So the night of the 31st of December (called the "nochevieja", that means Old Night) you spend time with the family and wishing everyone Happy New Year and then party! Like every country, Barcelona has its own traditions which are very interesting. Here are some of these traditions and street events that are happening that night.
When the New Year arrives, the best known and the most widely followed tradition is to eat 12 grapes synchronized exactly with the 12 dongs, if you manage, without choking it is said that you will be blessed with good luck the following year, and it is, of course, more difficult than it sounds but for sure it will be one very strange and probably funny experience to see everybody doing that. Just be careful not to choke!
In Catalonia, you don´t drink Champagne, but Cava the local sparkling white wine of the region is very proud, so another tradition is toasting the New Year with a gold ring or something else gold in your glass of cava that means that it will bring you wealth and prosperity.
The third tradition which is considered also a good thing is to wear red lingerie, people believed that the red represented life and blood and that is how the red lingerie a symbol of good luck. So wearing red lingerie on New Year´s Eve brings you good luck and happiness in love.
After all these, there are also amazing street events for New Year´s Eve:
Plaça d´Espanya
Plaça d´Espanya, Montjuic this is a family-friendly event and very popular with the locals is hosting Barcelona's official New Year´s Eve celebration. It has music, beautiful lights, a wonderful pyrotechnic display around the Magic Fountain and the most important is that this spectacular event is free. They head over in the thousands so make sure that you will go early to claim a decent spot. The New Year´s Eve event itself begins around 11:45 pm and it has an amazing firework show and performances but There is a pre-show that starts at 9:30 pm and includes the Magic Fountain lights display.
Plaça Catalunya
If you are looking for a cheap option to celebrate the New Year Plaça Catalunya is perfect. Because of its central location gets absolutely packed on New Year´s Eve and is favored by the locals. So if you are heading to a street party then make sure you don´t forget your cava and grapes.
Accommodation
If you still do not have a place to stay Barcelona city check the Habitat Apartments website and find yourself a quality apartment for the best price.
