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New Year in Philippines is one of the major festivals in the country. The country is known for its rich tradition and culture which have paved path for lots of festivals in the region. New Year is celebrated with great pomp and splendor. There are also some New Year customs in Philippines which are followed by people of all religions, castes and races. The customs provide a deep insight into the rich tradition of the country.
People in Philippines mostly celebrate New Year with their family members and friends. The celebrations take place from New Year’s Eve. The families gather at night and have a meal together. This signifies good luck and plenty of production in the year ahead. After the meal, they offer their prayers. A special ingredient of the meal is that it consists of 12 different fruits. The twelve fruits signify the twelve months of the year.
Media Noche or midnight mass is one of the important New Year customs in Philippines. The mass is believed to offer good luck all over the year and drive away evil forces. Fireworks are very popular in the country and as such they are a major part of the New Year customs in Philippines. The sky is lit with different types of fireworks. They symbolize happiness and prosperity throughout the year. Fireworks in Philippines are known as ‘Filipino paputok’.
Another custom is to greet and wish each other to mark New Year. It signifies good luck and happiness. In the villages and rural areas, people beat pots and pans to drive away evil forces and bring happiness. Another unique custom is that children jump up and down 10 times to grow taller in the year ahead.
Plenty of functions and cultural and recreational activities are also a major part of New Year customs in Philippines. Filipinos dress themselves in polka-dots as the roundness signifies prosperity. They also carry round coins in their pockets. Movie halls, theaters and other cultural hot spots are flooded with shows. Traditional performances like rural dances and music events are also held.
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