ESL Blogs

The “Bisperas ng Bagong Taon” (New Year’s Eve) is one of the most desired celebration every Filipino is waiting for. Why not? It’s almost an extension of Christmas celebration, knowing that it’s just a week away. Unfortunately, this will be my second bed-ridden new year’s eve, yeah! Again, living abroad is such a big hindrance, I’m sobbing now. L I can imagine my siblings monopolizing the videoke, grrr!

Anyway, there are so many interesting Filipino superstitions related to New Year’s Eve in the Philippines. Luckily, we don’t force this on everybody but oldies suggest observing, at least. The following traditions, norms, and customs were created to believe that these will give prosperity, blessings, guidance, luck, and plenty of joys. (These traditions are mostly under the influence of Chinese culture).

Make some noise as much as you can! 

This is because Filipino believes that noise will scare away evil spirits and they will be gone forever, this is the moment people use horrible firecrackers, well you know, I hate firecrackers! I yell at my siblings over and over seeing them holding one, but I know I’m such a killjoy for my youngsters! Oh great! Of course, I will not deny when I was young I’m also contributory to all those noises done before, how many times I started our tricycle blowing its horns and I even drove the street with kitchen wares tied to the back side and slamming the road, hahaha! Good grief I made a drastic changed. Haha!(guys, I even threw some rocks to neighbor’s roof, oh men!I hate my former self, really). I would like to add, we scare not only the evil spirits, our pets as well, sigh! Noise from New Year’s Eve gave them a mild temporal to permanent mental trauma, I can understand why.

Lights on! 

Turn on ALL lights so that the coming year is bright and dazzling, who wants to welcome New Year with darkness, so to say. So guys, here’s the lighter and lit those light crackers, I mean, kidding! Just turn on all your house’s light, simple. (Our kids are doing this, but I will not suggest for sure! Accidents happen). I would like to add, most of the time there’s a news flash somebody burnt his house because of this. Yeah, the coming year surely bright without a house, oh joy!

Open!

Simple, open all doors, windows, cabinets, drawers, what else? (But no, we are doing this.  This is to invite blessing and good fortune in. I would like to add, c’mon we could invite robbers as well, very fortunate, right? 

You should pay!

All your debts must be paid off before the year turns and fill your wallet with new and fresh peso bills. Filipinos believe that whatever your financial state is in at the stroke of midnight, so it’ll be in the New Year. (What? Are you kidding me? How about those credit card installments? Should I pay them in advance? No, no, no!) I would like to add, most of the time, you are in another chapter of debt after celebrating this occasion because you are obligated to “celebrate” and make a “feast”, with or with a penny in your pocket, so what now? Another debt coming, right? :/ (We are not practicing this, thankfully! I will pay on due dates. :D)

Cleaning time

Mother always telling me, “anak, ilabas mo na yung mga plato, kaldero at mga cabinet, isisin mo lahat” (daughter, get all the utensils, kitchen wares, and cabinets and clean them all).It’s because Filipinos believe that we must clean all of our things including the whole house so that the coming year will they will remain/stay clean. Huh? I would like to add, I think, there’s no problem with this but don’t do this only for New Year, otherwise don’t use your things anymore. 

Polka dots fashion sense.

Oh my! I’m guilty, sorry but I like the design with or without celebration. Anything round signifies prosperity and money.

Raining Coins!

Scatter coins around the house, on tabletops, as in all areas, toss numerous coins in the air, as if we are in house blessing, hahaha! (We are not doing this, where to get those coins, we’re almost empty pocket for the mere celebration, plus I’m so sure my niece will collect all of those coins.)  

Jump, Jump, and Jump!

Jump 12 times at midnight, I mean exactly 12midnight, to increase your height, this is a hoax, I’ve been doing this for so many years, nothing happened, I’m still 5’3. (Yes, we are doing this)

12 months=12 fruits

Yes, one fruit symbolizes one month, that’s the logic why you have to buy 12 different fruits, another symbol for a well-off dining table. I’m confused why not buy one class and buy it 12. I would like to add, the fruit shape should be round. (But mom still buys papaya, banana, and apple, they aren’t round but according to her, it must be 12, so be it!)

Grape in your mouth.

Have a round grape in your mouth at the stroke of midnight. Huh? Why so? Maybe it will mean your words for the whole year will taste as sweet as the grape? If so, I will eat the grape whole year round!

Biko, sticky rice

For me, this is the best, not because of the meaning but because my Father cooks this BEST! I’m always waiting for him to initiate this and I will stay beside him to watch how he cooks this. Well, this is a native delicacy made from sticky rice to make a good fortune in New Year and this will help to bring families together; being sticky signifies unity and bond. (I don’t know about the superstitions behind this before, but yes, we are cooking this food). I would like to add, helping your loved ones making this will certainly enhance connection, and the thought of a family helping one another is the real score here while building harmonious relationship.

Pansit (noodles)

Essentially Pansit is a long noodle for long life. (We cook Pansit because it is one of the common feast foods in my country, influenced by Chinese). I would like to add, like biko, pansit might help us to develop accord, Filipino used to live with relatives, and extended families, so we need to prepare this enough to feed twenty people, plus the neighborhood.

No chicken, no fish

These two associated with the scarcity of food; actually, I don’t see any logic here. Good thing, we are not practicing this, I would be happier to eliminate this belief because I’m in charge with chicken roasting.

That’s it, guys! I will not encourage you to do the same, logically speaking, most are weird beliefs that have no basis at all. (I’m hearing my mom will say, doesn’t hurt if you will follow) What’s important is if we look back to the past year, we’ve done what is right and just, we helped people, we changed our bad behaviors and improve ourselves, we leave all negativity and welcome the New year with optimism, hope, faith and love that whatever bad happens in the past, the future will not be the same. May God bless us all.

Bagong taon ay magbagong buhay! (New Year, New life)