It's New Year's Eve and I know that everyone is busy preparing for the celebration that is to come a few hours from now. As I also plan on what to cook for our New Year's celebration here in Germany, I remember the many traditions that we had when celebrating the coming of the New Year back in the Philippines. It makes me nostalgic about it but reminiscing those days makes me smile and even chuckle.
Here are some of those traditions and beliefs:
1. 13 round fruits to be shared by everyone. It is said that the 13 round fruits will bring in good luck, maybe because fruits are healthy and if you eat them all year round, you won't easily get sick. Makes sense, right?
2. Firecrackers to start the year with a bang. It is a belief that lighting up firecrackers on New Year's Eve will help ward off the negative vibes. But because they are dangerous when handled improperly, many would just opt to turn the volume of the speakers to maximum and make any noise inside and around the house imaginable. Don't forget to sound the torotot too, a local horn made of paper and bamboo and plastic film.
3. Wear polka dots to welcome the new year. The bigger the dots, the better because it means more money for the New Year! But shouldn't we make it checkered stripes instead? Dots means coins and the latter means notes. Which do you prefer? The notes of course! So it better be checkered stripes! Lol!
4. Throwing of coins for the children. It is a symbol of sharing your blessings to others, especially to those who have less than you have. It is always a good idea to share your blessings to others, no matter how small, because they will come to you a hundred fold.
5. Round dishes on the dinner table on New Year's Eve. Keso de Bola, Pear-shaped or Ball Ham, round shaped cakes, and other dishes placed in round containers. Aside from the circle being a symbol for money, the circle is also endless and perfect. The belief is that the more you have on the table, the more bountiful and prosperous the year will be because the blessings will just pour.
There are countless others. But these are the significant ones. Whether you believe these or not, what matters most is that you always do what is good, you give your heart and best in every endeavor, and you never fail to give back and share to others for all the blessings that you have received.
2 comments:
Happy New Year to you.
Happy New Year! Just dropping by and greeting all the bloggers a very fruitful years to come. God's Day!
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