After Christmas, Filipinos are excited about the coming of the New Year. And our celebration is very fun with all the quirky customs we have to welcome the switching of the calendar. Here is a rundown of the awesome Pinoy New Year traditions you will enjoy participating in
Pinoy New Year tradition no. 1: Media Noche
Noche Buena may be the holiday feast that Pinoys look forward to but they are ready for another round just a week later. As is with the former, Media Noche is the midnight dinner eaten to welcome the new year. Just like Noche Buena, you can expect loads of food on the table.
Pansit is one of the most common fares since it is believed to prolong life. While you might not subscribe to the superstition, you will nevertheless love the different varieties of pansit relatives will bring. Palabok, pansit Malabon, and pancit Molo are some of the popular ones.
Another common Media Noche staple is the various desserts made from glutinous rice (malagkit). And there can be a lot, including:
- Biko
- Suman
- Sapin-sapin
- Puto
- Biko
So, why the love for these kakanins? According to an old belief, sticky rice symbolizes a tight family bond. Hence, the more you serve, the more closely-knit your family will be for the coming year. Whether or not you believe this, the New Year is the time when you can munch on these to your heart’s content.
Pinoy New Year tradition no. 2: Beautifying the house
A common activity for the family is to clean the entire house before New Year’s Eve. The idea is that it is in preparation for receiving next year’s blessings. All of the old stuff is taken out of the house and those that cannot be used are disposed of.
Once the cleaning is done, the house is decked out in new decorations like window curtains and tablecloths. This is still in keeping with the idea of welcoming a new start. All the doors, windows, and lights are also opened on New Year’s Eve to attract good luck.
In an interesting twist, you have to complete all the cleaning before New Year itself. According to an old belief, cleaning the house on the first day of the year is like sweeping away all the good luck that has started coming in. To make up for this, some families start the cleaning even before Christmas.
Pinoy New Year traditions no. 3: Jumping high on New Year
There is an old Filipino belief that jumping high just as the clock hit 12 on the New Year will make you grow taller. Another version of the story is that you need to jump three times in order to jump three times in succession.
While there is no proof that it actually works, this one has become an amusing Pinoy New Year tradition. Parents will jokingly get their little kids to jump in so that they can grow faster. On the other hand, it has also been a custom for friends to do a group jump to help their shorter members get a boost.
Pinoy New Year tradition no. 4: Dealing with money issues
Since a common theme with the Pinoy New Year is getting off to a good start, many try to apply it to monetary concerns. tt is customary for a lot of people to pay off their debts before the year ends for a clean slate. People also believe that being debt-free on January 1 will make you the same for the rest of the year.
On the flip side, some people avoid spending on anything during the first day of the year. They believe that doing so will mean they won’t be spending a lot for the months to come. This ties to the general belief that what you do on New Year will be the same thing you will do for the entire year.
Pinoy New Year tradition no. 5: New Year countdowns
While it is hardly a unique activity, Filipinos also love participating in New Year countdowns. Often, popular events places like Bonifacio High Street, SM Mall of Asia, and the Quezon Memorial Circle all have their own countdown events. These are typically for free, making them popular destinations for families and groups.
For those who don\t have time to travel to these places, the TV is where they tune in. The two largest TV networks, ABS-CBN and GMA, put up competing New Year\s Eve programs. Both have lavish production numbers while waiting for the last seconds of the countdown.
Aside from these specials, the networks also air year-end specials. These count down the most notable events that happened in the country. The list of events covers a variety of topics, from showbiz to political events, which will be an interesting watch.
Welcome 2020 Pinoy-style with these New Year traditions
These Pinoy New Year traditions add a unique spin to celebrating the arrival of 2020. And they will give you an even better appreciation of our culture. Partake in these traditions and have a great time welcoming the New Year.