Day of the Canary Islands

📣 Traveler notes

Spain is known for its friendly culture, relaxed pace of life, diverse cuisine, and vibrant festivities. It is culturally rich, possessing the second-largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites globally.

• New Year's Eve (Nochevieja) is marked by the tradition of eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight.
• The New Year countdown ceremony ('Las Campanadas') takes place at Puerta del Sol in Madrid.
• Spectators traditionally count the 12 chimes, with a grape meant to be consumed during each chime.
• The celebration usually concludes with a fireworks display.
• General communication is direct, and Spaniards are comfortable expressing emotions and opinions openly. Interrupting conversations or talking over others is common. While Spaniards are welcoming, being tactful is advised. Punctuality is valued, though arriving up to ten minutes late is generally acceptable. When dining, wait for everyone to be seated before starting, and do not leave the table until the last person is finished. When receiving gifts or meals, it is considered polite to initially decline before accepting.