Welcoming the New Year is one of the most favorite events for us Filipinos. For one, January 1 still falls under the Christmas Holidays, thus most of us are still with our families back in our home town or province.
Apart from the lavish preparation that people do for the celebration on Christmas Eve, the Media Noche or the feast to welcome New Year's Eve is just as important. Since the Philippines have inherited different traditions from different cultures, it's not a wonder to know these traditions are still being observed until this day.
Here are some of the traditions and superstitions that are still very much alive today:
Preparing 12 round and sweet fruits on New Year's Eve.
Many Filipino tables can be seen displaying a variety of local and imported fruits to welcome the New Year.
Welcoming the New Year with a loud, bright, and colorful fireworks
The banging and booming rise to a climax which includes clanging of old pots and pans, blowing jeep, car or tricycle horns, ambulance sirens for full one minute as the countdown to New Year.
Other more subtle traditions observed during New Year includes wearing of a lucky color, either red or whatever the color of the year is, and wearing a polka dotted shirt or dress.
Polka dots symbolize coins which, in turn, symbolize good fortune. Wearing garments with these patterns is said to bring money and good fortune to whoever wears it.
I hope you will enjoy spending New Year here in the Philippines!
Happy Holidays Everyone!
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