New Year’ Eve Traditions (Filipino Style)

This year flew by really fast! I can’t believe in just a few days it will 2015 already! That means my little one will be 3 years old! Aaaaahhhh! Too soon! But, I love the New Year though. Fresh start, and the feeling of also starting or restarting goals. Growing up, my mom made a huge deal of New Years Eve. We had to ring in the New Year with a bang, and my mom believed in very many superstitions to have an abundance of luck and wealth in the New Year. 


Here are a few of our family New Year traditions:

Food


We prepare a really big feast on New Years Eve! Just as big as Thanksgiving and Christmas! The picture above is the only picture I own of my mom’s New Years Eve feast. On our table we must always have:

-12 different types of round-shaped fruits: to signify each month of the year.
-Noodles (pancit): signifying longevity
-Eggs on the noodles or other dishes: signifying a new life
-Arroz Caldo (sticky rice porridge): that’s so good fortune will stick around all year long.

Superstitions

-Pots and pans are clanged to scare away evil spirits.
-Right before midnight strikes, all doors must be left wide open (cabinets, windows, drawers, cupboards) to allow good luck to enter.
-Pockets are filled with round coins, which are jangled to attract wealth.
–At the exact moment of midnight, Filipino children jump as high as they can because they believe this will make them taller. 
-Whatever condition your wallet is in when the New Year arrives, so it will be the rest of the year. Make sure to put in the money your received on Christmas. The same goes for the neatness of your home. 
-Filipinos spend the last days of the year vigorously cleaning everything, especially of dust. However, on the first day of the new year, you are not supposed to do any cleaning. 
-Lastly, don’t start the year off by spending money. Frugality on the first day sets the tone for wise money management in the coming year. 


This is what I’ve been doing with my family for as I could remember! It definitely a special time for us.

I spent all day today at 3 different grocery stores to find certain round-shaped fruits, as well as, make sure our pantry is fully stocked for the New Year! 

How about you? Do you have any family traditions for the New Year? If so, comment  below! I’d love to hear it! 

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12 thoughts on “New Year’ Eve Traditions (Filipino Style)”

  2. V. Nino says:
    Reply

    Danica,

    I'm not sure if I mentioned this already, but my husband is Filipino and our children are little Mexipinos 🙂

    I try to cook him pancit, lumpia and adobo as often as possible. My next attempt is sinigang (sp?).

    Filipinos are some of the most superstitious people I've ever encountered! lol My husband forbids any shopping in New Years Day. And I definitely become hyper-aware of the superstitions whenever we visit my in-laws (in San Diego). Like, I won't dare put my purse on the floor.

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  5. Danica R says:
    Reply

    That's awesome! You have a beautiful family! I have a recipe for sinigang on my blog! That's my favorite dish 🙂 That's great you know how to cook those delicious meals. Yes, we are very superstitious, and sometimes I get on my mom about being “too much” haha

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  10. Mel - Melly Moments says:
    Reply

    Wow…this is incredible! I'm not sure my family has that number of traditions with all of the holidays combined 😉 In all seriousness, what a fun and exciting way to start a new year. I LOVE all of the food representations, along with the superstitions. Thanks for sharing 🙂

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