What’s up mga Sugbuanon! Just a few more days, it’s finally New Year. Excited na ba mo para sa Bag ong Tuig? And you know what, what’s New Year without some fun and quirky Filipino traditions. And just like everyone else, Filipinos around the world mark the event as one of the year’s most special events.

In the Philippines, New Year celebrations are fun and exciting. Turning the entire country into a war zone, with fireworks set off with great abandon all over the place. There are some interesting traditions—some are also superstitious or associated with folk beliefs for the New Year. 

For centuries, Filipinos have practiced various customs to greet the incoming year. Many do it with an expectant heart, cultivating optimism and looking forward to hopes for prosperity. The traditions have been passed down for generations and have Spanish and Chinese influences. 

With Sugbo.ph, we would like to share with you the five quirky Filipino New Year traditions and practices that welcome the New Year: 

Polka Dot Magic 

For Filipinos, wearing anything round signifies prosperity. The polka dots epitomise money and fortune. 

Jumping High When The Clock Strikes 12

Children are encouraged to jump as high as they can when the clock strikes twelve because old folks believe that it will help them grow taller.

Media Noche

New Year’s celebration for Filipinos isn’t complete without the old Filipino custom, Media Noche. During new year’s eve, Filipino families, relatives, and friends gather for a lavish midnight feast that symbolises their hopes for prosperity and an abundant year ahead. This tradition is most likely inherited from the Spaniards, who colonised the country for more than three hundred years.

A Variety of Round Shaped Fruits

For some it’s 12, 13, or 14—it doesn’t matter as long as you have round fruits on the table. Filipinos believe that round fruits are a symbol for prosperity and fortune. This tradition was inherited by the Chinese. The round fruits are often the centerpiece of the Media Noche. Fruits with thorns like pineapple, jackfruit, and durian are also avoided as thorns symbolize problems or obstacles. 

Eat Sticky Rice To Strengthen Family Bond

Filipinos are known to be family oriented with very close family ties. They believe that eating food made from sticky rice like bibingka (a type of baked rice cake), biko (sweet rice cake), and tikoy (also known as nian gao, which is translated to Chinese New Year’s cake) will bind families together stronger and it is also believed to deliver prosperity.

That’s it!

That’s it mga Sugbuanon! As New Year is just right around the corner. May you continue to have a prosperous New Year celebration with your families as you celebrate with these fun and quirky practices and traditions.