As 2026 approaches, a unique New Year's Eve ritual is set to see single people across the UK sitting beneath their dining tables, hurriedly consuming a dozen grapes at the stroke of midnight. The act, a twist on a centuries-old tradition, is believed to invite romance and love in the coming year. Seizing on the viral phenomenon, supermarket giant Tesco has launched a dedicated product: a pack of exactly 12 seedless grapes.
The Supermarket's Romantic Gambit
The retailer is selling the specially packaged grapes for £1.25, or for just £1 for customers who are both single and members of the Tesco Clubcard scheme. The trend, which exploded on TikTok at the start of 2025, blends two distinct cultural practices. The core ritual of eating 12 grapes at midnight originates from Spain, where it is known as 'las doce uvas de la suerte' (the 12 lucky grapes), with each grape representing a month of the year. A sweet grape foretells a lucky month, while a sour one suggests challenges ahead.
However, the version captivating lonely hearts online adds a specific Latin American twist: eating the grapes while seated under a table is said to specifically usher in a year filled with love and romance. Tesco's decision to commodify this ritual has generated a fierce online debate, with reactions split between those seeing a clever market move and others decrying peak consumerism.
Social Media Backlash and Dating Despair
On TikTok, the product has been framed by some as a stark indicator of the state of modern dating. Content creator Jenny Ferjay posted a video asking "How did we get here?" and stated, "Nothing says 'UK dating crisis' like Tesco selling women 12 grapes to eat under the table." Another UK-based creator, Hasti Mostofi, shared footage of herself buying the grapes, lamenting, "Dating in the UK is so bad Tesco [is] selling 12 grapes... I hope it's better than Hinge."
The criticism wasn't solely focused on dating. User Paris called the move madness, writing "Consumerism is mad, Tesco hopped right on that." Meanwhile, TikToker @robynburke05 expressed disbelief, pleading, "Please tell me we are not sitting under a table wishing for a MAN going into the new year... Set your intentions right for the new year PLEASE." On X, one user declared "war" on Tesco for selling "a quid for TWELVE grapes, wrapped in plastic," labelling the supermarket a "consumerism final boss."
A Tradition of Luck with Mixed Results
The Spanish tradition itself is thought to have begun around the turn of the 20th century, possibly as a clever marketing ploy by grape farmers in Alicante to sell surplus stock, or as a mockery by Madrid residents of the upper class's champagne habit. Some folklore also suggests it was adopted to ward off evil spirits.
Not everyone who tried the trend for 2025 reported success. Creator Maria McVey took to TikTok to explain she would not be repeating the ritual. "There's one thing you will not catch me doing on New Year's Eve is sitting under the table and eating those 12 grapes," she said, blaming the grapes for a year that "brought me nothing but bad luck." Her stark conclusion was to "burn the grapes from the house for the whole of 2026."
As the countdown to 2026 begins, Tesco's £1.25 packet has become an unlikely symbol, representing a collision of ancient custom, modern social media trends, contemporary loneliness, and the relentless engine of retail consumerism.
