NEW YEAR'S EVE TRADITION

Filipinos are by nature a superstitious people. As New Year’s eve is nearing, be sure to observe the following (most are Filipino in origin, and some borrowed from the Americans.)

1. Kiss your loved ones at midnight. You are not just celebrating but starting the year with affection
    which will be maintained throughout the year.
2. Stock up your pantry, rice bin, and water jars/jugs. You don’t want to be lacking for a year.
3. Pay off bills before Jan 1st, but avoid settling debts on New Year’s Day.
4. Have thirteen kinds of fruit which are round or roundish in shape to bring in good luck for the new
    year.
5. Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s eve will bring prosperity.
6. Eat a sticky rice delicacy (bibingka, suman, patupat, tupig, etc.) to make good fortune stick.
7. Avoid having chicken or fish which are associated with scarcity of food.
8. Wear new clothes so you will have more new clothes throughout the new year.
9. Wear polka dots. Anything round signifies prosperity.
10. Turn all the lights on and your incoming year will be bright.
11. Clean everything, but not on the first day of the New Year.
12. Jump 12 times to increase height (meant for kids only).
13. Make loud noise at the strike of midnight to scare the evil spirits away.
14. Eat pansit (Filipino rice noodles) for long life.
15. Put grape(s) in your mouth at midnight. (Anything round denotes prosperity.)

16. Scatter coins around the house — on tabletops, inside drawers, window panes, etc.