Five traditions followed in Philippines to ring in the New Year
All over the world, New Year's Eve is celebrated with a bang. You eagerly count down the seconds until midnight, and when the clock strikes twelve, fireworks light up the sky. All night long, people celebrate with food, drinks, music, and cake, in the company of friends and family! On the first day of the new year, various cultures observe different traditions in order to bring prosperity and good fortune in the coming year. Some of the world's traditions are truly peculiar. Have you ever heard of people eating sticky rice to strengthen family bonds or noodles to ensure long life and prosperity? These are just a few of the quirky traditions found in Philippines. However, these haven’t appeared out of nowhere. They have unique underlying symbolisms that most of us aren’t aware of. So why wait? Let’s dive in and figure out where these unusual traditions stem from!
Eating 12 round fruits
You've probably seen people perform various rituals to bring good fortune. They will sometimes tie a horseshoe or draw a swastika on the door. What if I told you there's a way to bring good luck that's both effective and enjoyable? In Philippines, eating 12 round fruits on New Year's Day is thought to bring good luck! This custom was passed down by the Chinese. Eating 12 grapes when the clock strikes 12 is also a popular tradition observed by many people around the globe. So, set aside bananas and pineapples this year, and choose 12 round shaped fruits for each month of a potentially spectacular new year! However, in Philippines, people avoid fruits with thorns because they represent problems or obstacles, and you don't want that, do you?
Keeping round objects (coins) in pockets
Filipinos believe that this tradition ushers in good fortune. At midnight, you must fill your pockets with coins and shake them. Isn't it simple? To be financially blessed, Philippians scatter coins around their homes, putting them inside drawers, on tables, and even on their front door. It is also believed that not spending money on January 1st also leads to a better financial year!
Wearing polka dots
You must have noticed a pattern in the traditions after reading about the Filipino tradition of eating round fruits and carrying coins. The traditions involve round-shaped objects. This is because round signifies prosperity as the shape resembles gold and silver coins from the olden days. Because of this belief, Filipinos wear polka dot dresses on New Year's Day!
Stocking up on rice
As in most of South Asian countries, rice is the staple food of Filipinos. One of the Filipinos' new year traditions is to stock up on rice before the new year begins. They believe having a good supply of rice will make the coming months fruitful and abundant, and the family will not go hungry for the rest of the year. On the last day of each year, Filipinos ensure that their rice containers are full.
Keeping the doors open
The people in Philippines follow another unusual tradition. At the stroke of midnight on 31st, they open their front, cabinet, closet doors and windows. What do you think might be the theory behind this? People believe that opening the doors before the year changes will allow good fortune and opportunities to enter. However, you may not want to leave the door ajar for an extended period of time in case a robber comes in! Nonetheless, you can open the windows and let the good vibes in!