WHY DO FILIPINOS LOVE TO PERFORM LUCK TRADITIONS?

From knocking on wood to eating grapes every New Year’s Eve, Filipinos have always relied on small rituals to bend fate in their favor.

- By REOJENEE DELA CUADRA

From knocking on wood to eating grapes every New Year's Eve, Filipinos have always relied on small rituals to bend fate in their favor.

(Art by JANINA VALDEZ)

Filipinos have a long list of rituals they love performing on every occasion, from holidays, contests, and even major exams. New Year’s Eve is perhaps the most ceremonial: jumping to grow taller, blowing a torotot to ward off evil spirits, or even jiggling coins in our pockets to attract financial abundance.

For the last few years, Gen Z and millennials have engaged in a new, viral TikTok trend: a single person ready for romance crouches under the table and, when the clock strikes, gobbles down a dozen grapes in one minute.

Contrary to popular belief, this is not limited to romantic relationships. It traces back to Spanish culture, where it is known as las doce uvas de la suerte or “the 12 lucky grapes.” A group of merchants from Alicante in Eastern Spain established this practice on New Year’s Day as a symbol of good luck in the province. However, as reported by food writer Jeff Koehler, newspaper clippings from the 1880s indicate that the habit originated from Madrid’s bourgeoisie imitating the French New Year’s Eve custom of consuming grapes and champagne.

Regardless of its true origin, people have continued to take part in this practice to bring luck by their side, as the 12 grapes equal the months in a year. Gen Z has interpreted this custom into a love ritual today, and although we know that there is no real correlation between grapes and success, many people still willingly participate.