People who found love at the stroke of midnight last New Year's Eve explained how a viral trend called the "Under the Table Challenge" brought them together.
Various TikTokers showed themselves in their respective videos participating in the challenge by positioning themselves under a table in 2021 and then showing off their significant others in 2022.
Hoping to inspire romance in 2023, TikToker @amyoliveros8 posted a video of how the challenge worked for her.
She wrote in the text overlay:
"Almost a year since I went under the table for new years."
The clip cut to her embracing her boyfriend to prove the effectiveness of the challenge.
The video–which gained over 4 million views–ended with her saying:
"and I met the love of my life."
She teased in the caption with:
"This is your sign everyone."
TikToker @lexxlalatina also posted a video accepting the challenge with a friend.
They both raised a shot glass to ring in the new year while crouching under a table.
She wrote in the caption:
"Never imagined finding the love of my life🥹❤️ 2023 is going to be full love love & accomplishments!"
The text overlay read:
"Got under the table at 11:59 on New Years eve last year."
Their low-to-the-ground toast was followed by a quick succession of photos of the women with their respective paramours.
According to San Antonio Express News, the "quirky" phenomenon stems from a Latin American tradition in which single people sit under a table for good luck in the hopes of finding love in the new year.
Taking a cue from all the success stories posted on TikTok, users planned to participate to increase their chances of changing their single status in 2023.
@lexxlalatina/TikTok
@amyolivera8/TikTok
@amyolivera8/TikTok
@lexxlalatina/TikTok
@lexxlalatina/TikTok
Lucky TikTokers shared their success stories.
@amyolivera8/TikTok
@lexxlalatina/TikTok
@amyolivera8/TikTok
But some users are still waiting to see the results of getting rug burns on their knees.
@lexxlalatina/TikTok
@lexxlalatina/TikTok
@lexxlalatina/TikTok
Eventually, the trend inspired new twists on the custom.
One example involves eating 12 grapes while sitting under a table.
Another requires wearing red under garments just before midnight at the end of the year.
TikToker @lolkarli chose the grape-eating variation and wrote:
"Last year, I ate my 12 grapes under the table."
She shared images of her relationship and added:
"Well, it worked. lol"
National Geographic noted the grape-eating tradition originated in Spain and that the number of grapes consumed represented:
"a wish for each of the months of the coming year."
Savoured JourneysandHuffington Post have mentioned that eating grapes under the table trend appeared to be a Peruvian tradition.
@lolkarli/TikTok
@lexxlalatina/TikTok
And as far as wearing red while engaging in the ritual, National Geographic said it was:
"believed to come from China and Vietnam, where wearing red or yellow underwear attracts good energy."
Babel, however, mentioned that wearing red lingerie was an Italian tradition, as:
"wearing red underwear guarantees luck and success for the year ahead."
@lexxlalatina/TikTok
Single people, if you're still finding your person and don't have any concrete plans as 2022 draws to a close, you may as well get your kneepads, fill those glasses of champagne, and manifest love in 2023.
What have you got to lose?
Cheers!
@lpeterp/Bluesky
@FPWellman/X
@bobsbeatgmail.com5/Threads