How Do Filipinos Celebrate New Year (Mga Pamahiin at Paniniwalang Pinoy sa Bagong Taon)

How do Filipinos celebrate New Year? Ah, maingay. Mausok. Masaya.

Literally, every place would look like there’s an aftermath of war in the morning of January 1 each year. It’s because of the firecrackers lit up on New Year’s eve as part of Filipino tradition. Firecrackers and the noise from trumpets (or torotot) are believed to throw bad spirits away. What else are the New Year beliefs of Filipinos you know?

Dapat ka daw magsuot ng damit na may polka dots dahil ang bilog ay swerte sa bagong taon. They say so because polka dots symbolize money. What if I want to wear apparels with rectangular patterns? At least it symbolizes bills, not just coins. =)

Maglagay ng pera sa bulsa para sa isang masaganang bagong taon. Well, I don’t know why but I do this every New Year’s eve. Again, not just coins but bills. Lots if I could. But before doing this, there’s one more practice I think we should do.

Pay debts before the year ends. In this way, you would not be starting the New Year grueling financial obligations.

Open all windows and doors so that blessings will enter in all corners of your house. Siguraduhin lang na walang makakasalising akyat-bahay.

During Media Noche, we prepare pasta or pancit (for long life) and then there’s malalagkit na kakanin (rice cakes) like palitaw, kalamay, tikoy, that we Filipinos believe will make the family stick together (well, not literally). Aside from that, one part of the Filipino New Year tradition is having 12 different round fruits (minsan nga kahit di talaga bilog eh pinipilit isama, basta prutas na walang kanto) for a bountiful and prosperous New Year.

We do all these in our family. As for my dad, he likes roaming around the house while banging a stainless casserole/pan to drive bad luck away (and to drive us all crazy with the loud noise he’s creating). My brother and I wear something red. I believe red brings us luck. While mom would fill four containers with salt, sugar, rice grains, and the last one with coins.

Above all, we should give thanks to The One who’s bringing us all the prosperity and blessings we are all praying for. Be good and try to at least fulfill your New Year’s resolutions not just for the heck of it, but for a better you.

Ganito ang aming Bagong Taon. Kayo ga?

Isang mapayapa at masaganang Bagong Taon sa inyong lahat!