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Monday Morning Photo - Wisteria Time in Andalucia

How quickly spring comes around after the short winter here in the Sierra Sur de Jaén. After lots of very much needed rain we´re back to the normal cloudless blue.  My garden is shooting incredbily with the moisture and now sunshine. And my beautiful wisteria flowers grandly albeit it short-lived. The big black carpenter bees love it. Each flowering season reminds me of the Botanical Gardens in Malaga and the ´tunnel´ of wisteria that I haven´t yet caught in bloom. April is a good time to plan to go if it´s on your list.  Here´s the botanical garden link La Concepción Botanical Gardens. And a sneaky peak at the wisteria. See the Monday Morning Photos list.
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Why do they Eat Grapes at Midnight in Spain?

Instead of dancing around singing Auld Lang Syne the Spanish tradition is popping a grape into your mouth at every stroke of the clock. Twelve strikes, twelve grapes. It may sound easy but pop in, eat, swallow and then pop in another one isn't as easy as it sounds. But why do they do it? I asked many Spaniards and nobody actually knew but the some had a rough theory.



Grapes at Midnight Tradition

The most popular story dates back to the early 1900s when a bumper harvest of white grapes led to producers sharing them out to one and all, and so began the tradition of popping grapes on New Year's Eve. Of course these days you can buy them prepacked, 12 to a tin or tub all ready for the countdown.

So why not give it a go? Large white seedless grapes and preferably a large mouth make for a quieter New Year's Eve as everyone is busy chewing, swallowing and popping. You have a few days to get in some practice before 31st December.



Happy New Year.
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