Here comes our New Year’s eve tradition

After Christmas celebration the next thing were gonna celebrate is welcoming the new year. Last time, I talked about some of the traditions we used to do during Christmas here in our country. Now I am going to discuss some of our country's new year eve tradition. Most of these were the things our ancestors have done and passed on to the next generations of the family. And most probably than not, these will passed on for the next century.

Wearing Polka dots

They said, wearing polka dots design shirt, dress or anything that has a polka dots design on New Year’s eve will bring luck and lots of money to the one wearing it. I don’t know if it’s true but most of the elders in the house when I was young are believers of that. So it has stuck in my young mind to wear polka dots design clothes on New Year’s eve, although when I grew up I didn’t followed it much. Maybe the reason why luck is not on my side. Guess I should start wearing it starting this year.

Making so much noise

The more you make noise, the more you are casting away all the bad lucks for the coming new year. Aside from all the fire crackers, fireworks display, we can make noise by using pots and pans. The roar of the engine cars will also be heard during this time of the year. Kids are busy making sounds too using their handmade trumpets as they aren’t allowed to use fire crackers.

Fireworks Display

This is another form of noise but more pleasing in the eyes. Who would never love the colorful fireworks forming different shapes in the sky. Using fireworks has adapted from Chinese tradition to take away all the bad lucks and bad spirits. Unfortunately only few people can afford to have fireworks so some of us opted for a more cheaper way to welcome the new year, by using the dangerous firecrackers. Who would never forget the super lolo, goodbye Philippines, whistle bomb and so much more firecrackers which has been banned for years because of the dangers it brought. Honestly, eversince this was implemented, the cases of fireworks related at the hospital during new year’s eve has been reduced.

12 round fruits

This is probably the famous or the very popular traditions in our country. This is in connection with welcoming luck for the next 12 months that’s why we have to prepare 12 fruits preferably fruits that are round in shape. Watermelons, oranges, pears, kiwi, apples and many others to complete the lucky 12 numbers that represents each month of the year. Whenever I go to the market I always make sure to bring a list of what fruits to buy so that I will never missed a single fruit. I am sure a lot of my countrymen can relate to this one.

Festive Feasts

Oh how can we ever forget the best serving dishes on the table this year. For those who have a big family this is the great time to prepare all the yummy dishes to be share by each member of the family. They say that the reason why families are spending extra during this celebration is because of the beliefs from the ancestors that you wouldn’t be starving or run out of food for the next year. As of now, I am still thinking of what dishes to cook for this celebration, but pork barbecue will always be present at the table. I just love it.

Full Containers

Honestly I only knew this tradition through my husband. Before the new year started every container in the house such as rice, salt, sugar and a lot more should be full to bring more prosperity and luck all throughout the coming year. So on my next grocery time, I better not forget to buy all these things so that I can full each container in the kitchen. I hope the luck will never forget us.

Avoiding Chicken and eating sticky foods

Another tradition that I learned from my husband's family. According to my husband, the reason why chicken dish is prohibited during New Year’s celebration is because chicken have wings, the luck might fly away, so better avoid serving it. On the other hand, sticky foods is also part of Filipino tradition which is according to Chinese will bring good luck. You’ll see a lot of “tikoy” in the supermarket even though it isn’t Chinese New Year yet because of this tradition that we Filipinos have adopted from Chinese Community.

Closing Thoughts

As you can see, almost all of the traditions we have were adopted from Chinese community because not too long ago, before Spaniards invaded our country, our ancestors were busy trading with the Chinese people. I guess, that’s the reason we had a lot of beliefs and it was passed on to every generations of the family.

How about you guys? What traditions do you usually do during this time of the year? I will be glad if you share some of your traditions specially to all my non Filipino friends.

That would be all for today. Thanks for dropping by and for continuously supporting my articles since day 1. Let me take this opportunity too, to give special thanks to @LeticiaFelize for renewing her sponsorship to me, as well as to my new sponsor @ErdoV for the trust and being in my sponsors list. From the bottom of my heart thank you.

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