LateRooms.com - 'Gobble some grapes' to celebrate New Year in Seville

LateRooms.com can announce that when many people think of grapes, the first thing that springs to mind could be wine, cheese boards or a summery picnic in the park.

But for those staying in Seville hotels over New Year, the fruit could become an important part of their celebrations as they ring in 2010.

As the clock strikes 12 on December 31st, crowds of people gather in the city's La Plaza Nueva to celebrate the new year with dancing, singing, cheering and plenty of champagne.

However, they also have the slightly more unusual custom of eating grapes.

For each chime of Seville's town hall bells, the revellers all eat a piece of fruit to celebrate the 12 strokes of midnight.

As well as a spectacular fireworks display, uneaten fruit also goes soaring through the air and there are plenty of fiestas going on throughout the city well into the night.

If dancing in the street does not capture the imagination of visitors to Seville, then many bars and restaurants host their own private parties with food and drink that can be enjoyed by everyone.

Seville, which is one of the largest historical centres in Europe, is in the Andalucia region of Spain and legend has it that the city was founded by Hercules.

"LateRooms anticipates heavy demand for hoteles Sevilla due to the New Year and recommends that people attending book their accommodation early," says LateRooms head of marketing Jess Reading.