New Year!
By dolce_vita78
@dolce_vita78 (8062)
Philippines
December 27, 2008 9:01pm CST
Hello everyone!
I was just wondering what are the things you practice or observe when welcoming the New Year. Here in the Philippines, we have a lot of beliefs about how to welcome the New Year. Most are actually influenced by other cultures like those of the Chinese. One common practice in the Philippines is to welcome the New Year with a bang! Yes, loud noises from practically anything. Fireworks and/or firecrackers are commonly used. We also create sounds using cooking pots and frying pans. Others use gongs. Others shake aluminum pots containing coins. In short, anything that creates loud sounds. According to other people, this is one way of driving away bad spirits and negative vibes. Another practice is to use new clothes and shoes to welcome the New Year. Another practice is to wear anything red and/or gold. Others believe that wearing clothes that are polka dots bring in luck too! There is this one practice among most of us that once the clock strikes 12 midnight on New Year's eve, one must jump as high as he/she can so he/she can grow taller.
Oh well... how about you guys?
4 people like this
12 responses
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
28 Dec 08
Hi dolce_vita! Happy New Year dear! Well, as I am your kababayan..we do have the same practices although I do not practice them. haha..There is also this tradition with my old folks that they have these 12 kinds of fruits that are round which is prepared on New year's eve which is said to bring good luck and bounty harvest for all the 12 months of the coming year. It is also been a practice by my grandmother to fill in all the containers in the kitchen such as the rice dispenser, sugar container, creamer, etc.. so that within the coming year all these containers will always be full. Just my thoughts dear and I do wish you a Happy and Blessed New year! Take care always! Love..faith210
@dolce_vita78 (8062)
• Philippines
28 Dec 08
Oh yeah, the 12 of each 12 kinds of fruits that are round... And yes, filling those rice dispensers and sugar containers, etc... LOL!
2 people like this
@munhozmib (3836)
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
28 Dec 08
Hello, dolce_vita78.
There are many beliefs for the New Year, but I do not know much of them. I just know that yes, we celebrate it with fireworks, and some people go to the beach and they jump some waves to bring good fortune. I do not believe in these. I do believe, though, that if I want to have a good year it will basically depend on me only.
Respectfully,
Munhozmib.
1 person likes this
@cheenlly (3476)
• Philippines
28 Dec 08
Same here kabayan, making noises to drive away bad luck, bad spirits and those circle fruits to attract luck of course. Wearing red clothes or polka dots is still a custom and of course like i said on previous discussion, we had this tradition of welcoming the New Year with the prayer, our whole family when the clock strikes 12.
@hey_baby (425)
• Philippines
28 Dec 08
when i was in grade school i remember we also do some practices, like having 12 round fruits on the table, putting coins in pockets and under the pillow, hanging grapes on doors and windows, make lots of noises, wear polka dots and yes, jump at 12mn. I used to jump religiously yearly. but when i noticed i'm not getting any taller, i stopped believing in these stuff, hehe..
other stuff we once tried, cooking rice porridge (a chinese classmate of mine told me this), put water, salt and rice on the table, and a lot of others.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
28 Dec 08
I live in the UK and since I was old enough to go in a pub, new year has always been a big party night. I cannot say from my point of view that there are any practices or beliefs although at midnight everyone hugs and kisses and sings the auld lang syne which is a song that I never know the words too!! I thought that this year was going to be boring and we were going to stay at home but we have just been invited to a party and the kids too so that could be fun!
1 person likes this
@kenchiprincess (5296)
• Philippines
28 Dec 08
hello friend since we came from the same country most of what you have mentioned are the common practice that we also observe. My mom also prepared 12 fruits in the table for the new year each fruit is a representation of the 12 months of the year that represents a bountiful new year. My mom would also scatter around coins all over the house to signify money for the new year and would give us coins to be placed in the pocket as the clock strikes 12. Thanks for sharing.
@annjilena (5618)
• United States
29 Dec 08
iam welcoming the new year since we have a new president i hoping this will bring change for all of us involved.here a new year mean a change from bad habits are anything negative in your life.we will welcome the new year with a bang and fire works all over the place uptown.
@checapricorn (16060)
• United States
29 Dec 08
[i]Hi dolce,
I can relate to everything you have said..LOL! That is also our practice and I will bring that here since it's my first Christmas here...LOL!
I remember that Mom will make it sure that we have enough supply of sugar, salt, milk, rice etc..you know, like all the bottles or tupper ware is full, believing for the whole year, the family will never be out of supply! Happy New Year![/i]
@di1159 (1580)
• United States
29 Dec 08
Hello Dolce! I am part Cuban and part American so I have a mix of celebrations. On the Latin side, we eat 12 grapes at midnight (one for each month) to bring us good luck in the coming year, accompanied by a glass of champagne or cider. Noise making is a must, usually in the form of fireworks, party horns, etc. I remember my grandmother used to clean the floor and then throw out the bucket of dirty water out the front door at midnight which was to rid the house of bad luck and negative vibes. We also were required to dress nicely. On the American side, my grandmother apart from doing the latin stuff, would make a huge pot of black-eyed peas and rice. We ate them every New Year's Eve for dinner and then again on New Year's day for lunch. It's supposed to be good luck. I don't know if it is but it sure tastes good! Enjoy the upcoming New Year and keep your traditions alive!
@mimico (3617)
• Philippines
29 Dec 08
Hello my friend! This year, we won't be blowing off any fireworks. We stopped a few years ago when there were many accidents caused by fireworks. Plus, it's really expensive to buy the nice ones. And I'm a big environment supporter so I am against fireworks due to the pollution it creates. We will prepare some round food on the table. That has been part of our family tradition. And I think we'll wear red and get haircuts as well. :)
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
28 Dec 08
Hi dolce_vita78,
We have fireworks going and also I normally open my front door and back door to let the old year out and leting the New Year in, some people would take a peice of coal and go visiting neighbours its called fist footing, the people who invite you in will be lucky for the whole years.
Tamara
@Margarit (3676)
• Philippines
28 Dec 08
Aside form you mention we also did this, about 13 circle fruits, We have that practice to buy 13 different fruit during new year, they said it is a sign of prosperity and luck for the next year. And other one is throwing coins in different denomination in the air and let everyone pick up the coins they said it is a sign of a bountify years a head. I have a discussion about fruits you can check it if you like. happy new year, http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1838739.aspx
