Since 1994, the residents of Bérchules, a municipality in the Granada Alpujarra, have maintained the tradition of celebrating New Year's Eve in the middle of August. This Saturday, August 1st, the town will enjoy its unique celebration, which includes the traditional 12 lucky grapes and a festive atmosphere.
A Christmas parade, despite temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, will wind through the streets of Bérchules. This festival, declared of Andalusian Tourist Interest in 2020 for its uniqueness and impact, attracts thousands of visitors who gather to celebrate 'New Year's Eve in August' and eat grapes to the sound of the chimes.
The origin of this peculiar celebration dates back to 1994, when a power outage on December 31st forced residents to eat their grapes by candlelight. This incident caused significant losses for local businesses, leading the Town Council to agree to celebrate New Year's Eve on the first Saturday of August.
The success of that first summer New Year's Eve led to the festival being repeated annually, becoming consolidated over more than 30 years. The celebration was only interrupted in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The festive day includes activities for all ages. Children will enjoy a special New Year's Eve in the Plaza de la Iglesia, with Christmas crafts, a foam party, and children's chimes. At 6:00 PM, the Christmas parade will begin, featuring the Three Kings and musical bands.
The highlight will arrive at midnight, when the chimes mark the toast to the new year in the Plaza de la Iglesia. The festivities will continue on Sunday, August 2nd, with a New Year's concert by the municipal band of Ugíjar.
