New Year's Day Celebration!

Another Christmas passed and everyone is now looking forward in celebrating the noisiest time of the year. It has been a tradition for Filipinos to celebrate the New Year with a bang. I admit, I have that crazy passion for fireworks and next to food for the New Year’s Eve I usually prepare my set of fireworks as well. Last year we had a set that lasted from 11pm ‘til the change of the year. I hate to admit it but I do spend quite a significant amount just for buying stuff that booms my ears. Also, aside from celebrating this event, we are also celebrating my Dad’s 74^th birthday. So I have more than one reason to celebrate (which also gives me the excuse of buying more fireworks! LOL).

The same way Americans enjoy Fourth of July fireworks, we all go out with the noise on New Year’s Eve. Pots and pans are clanged to scare away evil spirits. Cars and truck horns are honked to cause as much noise as possible. Empty cans are dragged all around using bikes and motorcycles and whistles are blown.

We also have different tradition during New Year’s Eve like all doors must be left wide open to allow good luck to enter. Some people dress in polka-dots because the roundness signifies prosperity. There are also a lot of people cooking sticky rice (malagkit/biko) so good fortune will stick around throughout the year. Pockets are filled with round coins, which are jangled to attract wealth. Coins are also left on top of tables and in drawers. Also there is a belief that when the clock strikes exactly 12am, children jump as high as they can because they believe this will make them taller. There is also this belief that the house must be tidy before the new year because this will be the case for the entire year. And lastly, don’t start the year off by spending money or else you will be spending for the entire year.

So, let's make sure to keep our pocket full of those hard earned money during the eve of the New Year so that we will have a lot to spend for the rest of the year!

Manigong Bagong Taon!

Happy New Year!