Filipino New Year traditions are a vibrant blend of superstitions and celebrations aimed at attracting good luck and prosperity. These traditions often involve special foods, attire, and activities, particularly on New Year’s Eve.
Key Filipino New Year Traditions:
- Media Noche (Midnight Feast): Families gather for a lavish midnight feast on New Year’s Eve, with dishes symbolizing prosperity, long life, and good fortune.
- 12 Round Fruits: Displaying 12 round fruits on the table is a common practice, with each fruit representing a month of the year and the round shape symbolizing coins for good luck.
- Eating Sticky Rice: Sticky rice treats, like bibingka and biko, are eaten to strengthen family bonds, symbolizing the “stickiness” that will keep the family close.
- Wearing Polka Dots: Wearing polka dots is a popular tradition, as the round patterns are believed to bring luck and wealth, much like coins.
- Making Noise: Loud noises, like firecrackers, fireworks, and banging pots and pans, are used to ward off evil spirits and bad luck.
- Jumping at Midnight: Filipinos jump at midnight to symbolize “growing taller” and having a successful year.
- Filling Containers: Making sure containers of rice, salt, water, and sugar are full before midnight is a tradition to ensure abundance in the coming year.
- Paying Debts: Paying off debts before the new year is believed to ensure good financial fortune in the coming year.
- Open Doors and Windows: Opening doors and windows is a way to welcome positive energy and good luck into the home.
- Scattering Coins: Scattering coins around the house is a way to attract wealth and abundance in the new year.
