PH New Year’s Eve Traditions and Superstitions
After
Christmas, Filipinos are now preparing for the upcoming New Year’s celebration.
It has been a part of Filipino Culture to practice different traditions many of
which are superstitious in celebrating the New Year.
Filipinos
love to buy fruits and serve them by dozen for the traditional midnight feast
called “Media Noche.”
Throwing of coins and all over the whole house, wearing clothes with polka dots every New Year’s eve are some of the traditions where Filipino believes including its practices.
Some
would jump 12 times once the clock struck midnight and others use coins inside
their pocket to make a jingling noise which is widely believed to bring
positive energy and good luck in a prosperous year. Some would settle all their
debts before the year ends.
The
majority of Filipinos believe in superstitions since childhood and learned them
from ancestors and subsequently passing to the next generations.
So let’s sum up what are the Filipino traditions and superstitions during New Year’s Eve?
1. Wearing Polka dots and display twelve-round fruits
Belief: 12 fruits mean 12-month that leads to Prosperity
2. Jumping at the stroke of Midnight
Belief: Jumping at exactly 12midnight of January 1 will increase your height.
3. Eating Noodles
Belief: Represents long life
4. Fireworks/cracker
Belief: To scare away bad spirits
5. Open Window and Doors
Belief: You are ready to accept New Year’s blessing.
6. Bring Water and Rice
Belief: Represents abundance, fortune and wealth. It means you will never have food shortage the entire year.
7. Scattering coins in the house
Belief: It brings wealth and prosperity.
8. Sprinkling salt every corner of the house
Belief: To purify the soul and keep away the spirits residing the house.
9. Have money in your wallet
Belief: You will never ran out of money throughout the year.
10. Kiss at Midnight or Be with someone you love
Belief: Kisses or be with the person/s you love mean closeness and togetherness of the entire year.
According
to the Experts, the traditions came from Spaniards. Most people who practice
these traditions have to feel safe for the New Year.
Sociologist
Maria Virginia Aguilar of De La Salle University-Dasmariñas said “It is part of how we feel secure. We do these
practices because we feel insecure. We do not know what will happen if we do
not have practices. So, instead of going away with them, we mix them with the
present or what the Spaniards taught us.”
People
tend to forget the real symbol of the traditions and are only practicing it for
superstitious considerations because it was seen on the elders. But for most
people who knew the true meaning of these superstitions, it is important to
maintain practicing them because they believe in them.