new year traditions
By roukawa
@roukawa (11)
Philippines
December 31, 2008 9:54am CST
The new year is just around the corner, and its time to say goodbye to the old one. In our place, we have numerous New Year's Eve traditions or practices that supposedly bring in good luck and prosperity for the coming 365 days. Some of these practices are (a) lighting up firecrackers - to ward off bad spirits and bad luck; (b) placing fruits and other round-shaped food on the table for the New Year's Eve celebration - to bring in prosperity because the round shapes are similar to coins or money; (c) jumping at the strike of midnight - to grow taller (only for the kids); and (d) shaking our piggy banks and other money containers - for good luck in gaining wealth for the new year. Do you have any similar traditions peculiar to your country/location and what are the reasons behind, or basis for, them?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@LaurenInLA (2270)
• United States
31 Dec 08
I live in the U.S. but I don't think that our family traditions at New Years Eve are American but rather some combination of traditions from my Irish Italian heritage. Every New Years Eve, the gathers at the house of the eldest and the parish Priest comes over to bless the house and all of our family members. Our dinner on New Years Eve comes from the Italian side of the family. We always have seven different kinds of fish and a side dish of pasta. I'm not certain what it means or why there have to be seven different fish dishes but there does have to be seven, no more no less. Perhaps, someone out there can tell me the significance.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
31 Dec 08
We have black eyed peas for prosperity, I always make sure I have at least a dollar in my pocket for financial good luck, and I like to write the bad things down, put in the fire to get rid of the bad mojo.
