The end is near!

1 day is already gone of this new year, the year many believe to be the last. But is this really the end? Even if it is the end should life be any different than what it used to be?

Enough with the philosophy of things. A little more than 24 hours ago, I witnessed a site like none other. Thousands of people huddled together in the then seemingly tiny Puerta del Sol waiting for 3 hours just so that the big clock strikes 12. Considering the amount of singing, dancing, hooting and celebrations going on during the lead up to the new year's, one would think that at the stroke of 12 everyone would burst out. But nothing of the sort happened. For 12 seconds the entire square was more silent than it had possibly ever been in the whole last year.


The reason behind this stunned silence was 1 of a kind superstition. Yeah, that's right - the 12 grape theory. Luckily, I was right in the middle of this sea of people witnessing a more than 100 year old tradition. And the world calls us India superstitious :D

But the sight showed what amazing belief the Spanish have. It sounded silly at first to stand around doing nothing for over 3 hours just to be able to eat a few pieces of fruit but unless you've seen it firsthand and that too at Sol you wouldn't wanna do it yourself.

After two and a half months, when I was started getting the hang of the Spaniards, they came around to surprise me with their strong beliefs. The people of Sol this day truly believe that their desires would come true for they had continued the age old tradition and I have no doubts that they would continue doing so year and year again.

Lets hope that we live to see the Spaniards eat another 12 grapes! Amen