Events

Traditionally the highlight of the year for party lovers throughout the world, the massive New Year´s Eve celebrations in Madrid are the highlight of the capital´s social calendar, and attract visitors from all over Europe.

Every year during Noche Vieja, huge crowds gather in the Puerta del Sol, and Spanish tradition denotes the eating of 12 grapes at midnight - one for each chime of the church bells.  Signifiying the 12 months of the year to come, the eating of the grapes is easier than it sounds, and is usually accompanied by much fun and laughter.

Great frivolity, drinking and merry-making follows to welcome in the new year, and many of the celebrations  are caught on national Spanish TV and broadcast around the country.  The partying continues in the streets until early the next day, when the cafés and churros bars fill up with hungover revellers from the night before.