12 Round Fruits for New Year
By Winky
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
Boston, Massachusetts
October 25, 2009 10:29am CST
In our country it’s a practice to have at least three to five types of round fruits, or as many as 12 kinds, on your table come New Year’s Eve. Since we don’t have that much budget to come up with 12 kinds of round fruits, which understandably are more expensive than they are during any other part of the year, we usually have to do with three types — apples, grapes, and oranges. According to my grandparents, round fruits symbolize money and blessings. These will attract positive vibes for wealth and abundance.
Now can you name other types of round fruits aside from those that I’ve mentioned? Who knows I will be blessed with extra money this year and good enough to complete the 12 round fruits. At least, I will have an idea what are these other fruits.
Have you had any experiences similar to this? Do you have any unique practices or customs in your country in celebrating the New Year or similar holidays? Please share. Thanks.
3 people like this
8 responses
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
26 Oct 09
This is very interesting to me; I have never heard of this belief before. Why is it that round fruits are important? Do they all have to be sweet fruits or can you have tomatoes and other foods people don't think of as fruit?
More round fruit: other kinds of citrus, melons, some berries...
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
27 Oct 09
Is it possible to have a garden where you live? Maybe you can have a lemon bush and some tomatoe plants and if others grow fruits as well perhaps you can trade with each other.
Oh, and olives are fruits!
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
27 Oct 09
Hi friend,
Round fruits symbolize abundance, prosperity and good health (fruits being round, fresh and gives us energy). Being healthy is equivalent to productivity and will result to abundance in the family.
Yes, all the fruits that you've mentioned are all IN for the 12 roudn fruits but some of the are very expensive because they are imported.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
28 Oct 09
yes we have gardens to grow plants and we are encouraged to do this in our back yards. Yes we consider tomatoes, berries and olives as fruits. Tomatoes are common but berries and olives are expensive here in our country and there are only some areas (because of the weather) where these types of fruits can only grow and survive.
@Jankar (583)
• Philippines
30 Oct 09
Well, my mother before also prepares 12 round fruits every christmas. And yes, whe have those three every year. As I can remember, we also have some water melon, its big and round. Lanzones, its a tropical fruit in our country, its small and round and plenty. Durian, also a big round thing with thorns but its our family favorite. I can't remember the rest though, but we always get to have 12 every year...
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
3 Nov 09
12 represents the total number of months and 12 also represents the 12 hours in the clock--- YOU WILL BE BLESSED 24/7 and for the entire year!
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
30 Oct 09
Hi Jankar,
Thanks for participanting in my discussion. I love durian too but we never included it in the 12 round fruits. Some of the family members hate its smell hehehe. We also included some the fruits that you've mentioned but could not complete the 12 round fruits for the new years eve.
It's good to know that your famly did. More ound fruits this coming new year for our family my friend.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
26 Oct 09
isn’t it just so sad that even festivities are becoming so expensive that most of us have to cut down on our budgets for these once-a-year events!
For round fruits guavas are great…you also have different kinds of melons all of which are round in shape and you can try them out. You can also try coconut.
We don’t have any unique customs for the new year mainly because in India, traditional new year is not on 1st January. However, fruits are considered auspicious for us too and in most of our religious festivities, it is compulsory to make an offering of five whole fruits to the god/goddess. As you can very well understand, the cost of fruits skyrocket during these times and its difficult for us too, to buy the fruits but then we just have to so we do!
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
26 Oct 09
Thanks for sharing with me your country's tradition in celebrating the new year and you have 5 fruits as an offering for your gods and goddesses--amazing! Round fruits during the season are really expensive and we're trying to look for more local fruits to complete the count.
Have a great day!
@momtrying2makeit (3270)
• United States
26 Oct 09
This sounds like a great way to bring in the new year. I have no belief like that but would love to start doing something such as this. I do have a suggestion though why not buy some fake fruit if you cannot afford the real stuff? Would that still have the same meanings as having real fruit? I myself plan to start writing my new years goals here real soon because many of my goals for this year have not YET happened. Nice topic and happy mylotting to you.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
26 Oct 09
Fake round fruits are really practical and readily available but the fun of eating it during the new year's eve makes the celebration extra special. This is the only time when families enjoy those round fruits and most of us really save and prepare for this. 12 fruits is one of the new year's eve's highlights.
You can try this friend.
@hexeduser22 (7253)
• Philippines
13 Jan 10
I smiled when I read this...This is a never ending or dying belief of Filipinos all over the world...I cannot suggest round fruits anymore because the celebration had passed and the other responders before me suggested fruits and I'm sure they've covered everything that I can think of
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
13 Jan 10
Hi Hexeduser,
...thanks for taking the time to comment on. you're right this is an old tradition that we can't do and live without comes the new years eve. imagine despite the round fruits being expensive still people go for it because of it being part of the tradition.
happy new year!
@jpmarianne2403 (1)
•
27 Dec 09
My New Year's eve celebration is same as yours.I have to be home by 12pm of 31st,and not to leave home until 12pm of the 1st New Years Day, not to let money out2.
12 round fruits in middle of my table before its strike to 12am of New Year's day..Same beliefs,it's represents the 12 round fruit to 12 months..For every month my family will recieve Blessings and Money for the months ahead. To top up my Blessings, my traditions I have to prepare complete 12 different menu on the table before its strike the midnight.Especially the Bili-Bilo (round shape of ground sticky rice with coconut sauce-desserts),Stir-Fry Noodles,the three kind of Meat, Fish,Vegetables,Boiled Rice,and so on..Not too much but just right menu's for the family and friends.And get rid off the Buddies(Bad luck) in my house and property. All lights of the house must be turn on, money in our pockets and finishes off 1am for the Fireworks..Hooray..I love to celebrate New Year...
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
13 Jan 10
Hi Jpmarianne,
Wow that's a lot my friend. it was a festive gathering for all of you. we only tried to have round fruits for new year but not 12 recipes. i think i will make this next year. this will make a twist in our usual celebration. thanks for sharing this with me...with us!
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
26 Oct 09
Hi msfrancisco,
Yes I do follow this tradition too. I've read somewhere it's 13 kinds, but no worries, I only manage to come up with 5 kinds of fruits at the most, so the maximum number doesn't really matter to me. Usually, it's any of the following: apples, oranges, mango (not as round but I think it qualifies), grapes, melon, rambutan, etc. - some I don't really eat but I still buy just so I can have round fruits on my dining table come New Year's Eve.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
26 Oct 09
13 Fruits? Really? it's only now that i learned about this--anyway, thanks for the information. Now, it will be more difficult to complete them--13 round fruits LOL. You've mentioned 6 round fruits so we still need to name and look for the remaining 7 round fruits--those that are available here in our country. How i wish i can complete the 13 round fruits this year.
@triplejazzm51 (1373)
• Philippines
26 Oct 09
Well, we try to do that too but we could not really complete the 5 types of fruits. Others say 12 types of fruits but for me for as long as we have fruits in our dining table it symbolizes bounty and prosperity. New year should also be welcome with gratitude and positive anticipation.
In our family, we see to it that everyone is present during the midnight meal or the "media noche". In the province, yearly we have a masquerade ball where every one attends in costume. Gifts are given aways and prizes are given to best costumes. This is the one i really miss every new year.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
26 Oct 09
It's the spirit of being together, praying for each other that matters as you enjoy whatever is in your table for the new year's eve--those round fruits and other food that you lovingly prepare for your loved ones. We do the same too in the province where my mom and some of my siblings live. That's why it's a must for us to go home and be with our family for the new year...facing a new chapter in our lives as ONE FAMILY!
Thanks and have a great day!