New Year's Eve in Madrid
On the morning of the 30th, we went out shopping for a New Year's Eve outfit, since in Spain, people tend to really dress up for NYE. We didn't have much luck, but we had the next day to continue. We split up, and I met Julie and Zed for lunch. A few days back I had messaged a Filipina friend who lived in Madrid a few years ago if there was a Filipino restaurant in Madrid. She gave me the address, we found it, and decided to try it out. The owner was a Filipina who had settled down in Madrid many many years ago. I had some kare-kare and satisfied my Filipino food craving.
After lunch we decided to ice skate at a makeshift rink nearby in Callao. We paid €5 and could skate around for an hour. The skaters were 95% kids, but we still had fun. :P
Most of the adults weren't skating, just standing by the railings taking pictures of their kids. So we asked a nice woman to snap a picture of the three of us.
After ice skating we rested in the plaza nearby with some churros con chocolate, and spent the rest of the afternoon making kwento, talking and laughing.
After our long merienda and a bit more Christmas shopping, Julie and I walked towards Sol. The Puerta del Sol was beautifully lit up with many colors. We found out that on the evening of the 30th, they hold a "practice run" at Sol in preparation for the next day's countdown.
It was still early so we went to have dinner nearby and came back at around 11:30. By then the place was packed with people. We worked our way somewhere near the middle and when we couldn't move anymore, decided that that was a good enough spot. It was pretty festive though; several people had some cava with them and others were sporting party hats and 2015 banners.
For the trial countdown (more on the tradition later on in the post), it's considered bad luck to practice with grapes so instead people bring candies or nuts to pop in their mouths. Julie and I didn't have anything with us, and the shops were closed so we couldn't buy anything. Luckily, Julie remembered that she had some pastillas in her bag so we made do with that! I only managed two bites of the pastillas during the countdown, but Julie somehow managed to stuff everything in her mouth.
On the 31st, Ange, Pablo and I went out in the morning and found an outfits for the night. We spent the early afternoon taking a siesta since we'd be out til late that night. Then at around 6pm Ange and I started preparing our Nochevieja. Instead of a big main dish, we prepared canapés: cold cuts (jamón, salchichon, chorizo), cheese (brie, manchego, goat cheese), jam, hummus and tzatiki, ravioli, bruschetta, smoked salmon, and garlic gambas and mushrooms. :)
My friends Julie and Zed joined us, as well as Ange's friends Pablo, Axelle and Sid. It was a great night with great company. Such lovely friends to end and start the year with. :)
Soon enough, it was time to participate in one of Spain's biggest traditions: las doce uves de la suerte (the twelve grapes of good luck)! Tradition dictates that eating 12 grapes on the last 12 'seconds' of the year will bring you good luck for the new year.
The countdown is done at the Puerta del Sol in Madrid and is televised all over Spain. The bell rings quickly four times after which come the 12 campanadas or strikes of the bell. It's on these 12 strikes that you pop one grape at a time into your mouth, all the time making sure you have your right foot forward. For NYE, supermarkets sell special seedless grapes (for twice the price, of course).
Side story: The televised event is a huge deal, and most all families do the countdown with the TV. Below is a screenshot of how the TV looks like. Basically, there are 12 circles and as each circle lights blue, you pop a grape into your mouth.
I recently found out that in Andalucia, there was a mishap during the televised countdown of one channel, CanalSur. After the fourth grape/chime/circle, the program went on a commercial break!!! The head of the department at that TV station eventually resigned the next day; that's how serious they take the 12 grapes tradition.
To end the post on a happier note, here's a picture of me and Angela all dressed up for New Year's. After the countdown, her friends also surprised her with a birthday cake.
After lunch we decided to ice skate at a makeshift rink nearby in Callao. We paid €5 and could skate around for an hour. The skaters were 95% kids, but we still had fun. :P
Most of the adults weren't skating, just standing by the railings taking pictures of their kids. So we asked a nice woman to snap a picture of the three of us.
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| Christmas lights in Madrid |
After our long merienda and a bit more Christmas shopping, Julie and I walked towards Sol. The Puerta del Sol was beautifully lit up with many colors. We found out that on the evening of the 30th, they hold a "practice run" at Sol in preparation for the next day's countdown.
It was still early so we went to have dinner nearby and came back at around 11:30. By then the place was packed with people. We worked our way somewhere near the middle and when we couldn't move anymore, decided that that was a good enough spot. It was pretty festive though; several people had some cava with them and others were sporting party hats and 2015 banners.
For the trial countdown (more on the tradition later on in the post), it's considered bad luck to practice with grapes so instead people bring candies or nuts to pop in their mouths. Julie and I didn't have anything with us, and the shops were closed so we couldn't buy anything. Luckily, Julie remembered that she had some pastillas in her bag so we made do with that! I only managed two bites of the pastillas during the countdown, but Julie somehow managed to stuff everything in her mouth.
 |
| With our pastillas |
My friends Julie and Zed joined us, as well as Ange's friends Pablo, Axelle and Sid. It was a great night with great company. Such lovely friends to end and start the year with. :)
Soon enough, it was time to participate in one of Spain's biggest traditions: las doce uves de la suerte (the twelve grapes of good luck)! Tradition dictates that eating 12 grapes on the last 12 'seconds' of the year will bring you good luck for the new year.
 |
| Grapes and Cava for Nochevieja |
Side story: The televised event is a huge deal, and most all families do the countdown with the TV. Below is a screenshot of how the TV looks like. Basically, there are 12 circles and as each circle lights blue, you pop a grape into your mouth.
I recently found out that in Andalucia, there was a mishap during the televised countdown of one channel, CanalSur. After the fourth grape/chime/circle, the program went on a commercial break!!! The head of the department at that TV station eventually resigned the next day; that's how serious they take the 12 grapes tradition.
To end the post on a happier note, here's a picture of me and Angela all dressed up for New Year's. After the countdown, her friends also surprised her with a birthday cake.
Feliz año nuevo! Happy 2015! :)
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