As the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2026, families across Southeast Texas welcomed the New Year with a unique tradition known as Las Doce Uvas de la Suerte, or the Twelve Grapes of Good Luck. This custom, rooted in Spanish and Latin American culture, has firmly established itself in the region, where generations of Hispanic families partake in the ritual of consuming twelve grapes—one for each month of the upcoming year.
In this lively celebration, participants hold the grapes tightly in their palms or balance them on small plates as they count down the final seconds of the year. At the stroke of midnight, each grape is eaten with the chimes of the clock, accompanied by silent wishes for health, love, stability, and prosperity. For Emily Flores, a forensics major at Lamar University, this practice symbolizes her aspirations for the year ahead.
Emily has set specific intentions for 2026, each represented by a grape. “First, I want clarity to commit to understanding my purpose in forensics,” she explained. “Second, discipline in building study habits and routines.” She listed ten more values, including curiosity, resilience, independence, and integrity, highlighting the importance of setting goals and maintaining focus.
Across communities from Beaumont to Port Arthur, and Orange to Baytown, the tradition thrives in various settings—from living rooms to church halls. Families often engage in additional customs, such as dressing in symbolic colors—red for love and yellow for abundance—or placing dollar bills in shoes to attract wealth. Yet, it is the twelve grapes that remain the focal point of the celebration.
“I want to travel to faraway places,” Emily shared, reflecting on her dreams as a student. She is determined to become a forensic pathologist, a career path that she believes will provide opportunities for travel and exploration of the world.
The tradition of Las Doce Uvas de la Suerte is passed down through generations, learned informally through observation rather than formal instruction. Children often giggle as they race against the clock, encouraged by their elders to make each wish count, regardless of the grapes’ taste or timing. As Emily noted, “My intentions are a checklist that I will work daily to accomplish. Dreams become a reality when thoughts become actions.”
In Southeast Texas, where diverse cultures intertwine, Las Doce Uvas de la Suerte serves as both a cultural milestone and a collective moment of hope. It transforms the New Year into more than just a change of date; it embodies the spirit of optimism shared among families and friends.
As fireworks faded and the initial moments of the New Year unfolded, the empty plates served as a testament to the promises made—twelve chances, twelve months, and the enduring belief that luck favors those who begin the year with clear intentions and heartfelt wishes.
