【講師コラム】メル講師No.23～Filipinos Quirky Yet Fascinating New Year Traditions～

🎶It’s the most wonderful time if the year. 🎶” Merry Christmas, everyone! How are you doing, Mommies and Daddies? Have you already put your Christmas trees and other Christmas decors up? Oh, how about the presents for your little ones? I bet they have already told you what they want to get from Santa this Christmas…

Oh, speaking of Santa, I have a funny story about my son when he was small. My son actually never believed in Santa. But it was unbeknownst to me until one of my cousins asked him about his wish from Santa since Christmas was near that time. He was just 3 then, and I was curiously waiting for his answer, silently wishing that it would not be something expensive. But to my surprise, he answered like this, “Santa is not real. He only exists in cartoon shows and movies.” I was speechless for a moment, then I asked who told him those things. He said that it was obvious because Filipino houses do not have a fireplace and a chimney top. He also said that he was just like Mickey Mouse and other cartoon characters that he was always watching on TV. And added that he would rather make a wish from this popular game show host in my country that time who was known for giving big presents to his poor contestants. This memory from my son’s childhood still never fails to make me smile whenever I remember it.

Anyway, I am really excited to share more fascinating and somewhat peculiar things about Filipinos culture and beliefs… Last time, Teacher Madel shared about Filipinos’ way of celebrating Christmas… Since Christmas is followed by New Year, I chose to talk about how we prepare and celebrate for the New Year…

In the Philippines, New Year celebrations are full of fun and quirky observances. 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 hoped-for prosperity. These traditions have been passed on from one generation to the next; a number of them have been influenced by the Chinese and Spanish.

1. Wear polka dots dress

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

2. Jumping high when the clock strikes 12

Children are encouraged to jump as high as they can when the clock hits 12 because old folks believe that it will help them grow taller.

3. Media Noche

New year’s celebration for the Filipinos is not 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 symbolizes their hopes for prosperity and an abundant year ahead. This tradition is most likely inherited from the Spaniards, who colonised the country more than 300 years.

4. A variety of round-shaped fruits

For some it’s 12, 13 or 14 – but it doesn’t truly matter as long as you have round fruits on the table. Filipinos believe that round is a symbol for prosperity and fortune. This tradition was inherited from 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 the thorns symbolize problems or obstacles.

5. 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 as Chinese new year’s cake) will bind families together stronger. This is also believed to deliver good fortune.

6. Water and rice container should be full

It’s always best to welcome the new year abundantly, so many Filipinos make sure the their water and rice containers are full during the new year celebration because they believe that this will make their life prosperous all year round.

7. Collect coins

Another popular practice especially among children is to fill up one’s pockets with coins and shake the pockets at 12 midnight. This practice is believed to bring good fortune. Some also scatter coins around their house – at every nook and corner, inside drawers, on tables and anywhere they believe will bring them more luck and money.

8. Loud noise to drive away evil spirits

Another Chinese influence are the firecrackers and fireworks. The main point is to create loud sounds to scare away evil spirits and elements and also to drive away bad luck.

Apart from pyrotechnics, others create loud noise through other means such as the car horn, torotot (hornpipe) and even frying pans or pots.

9. Open doors, windows and turn on all the lights

Apart from food and coins that symbolize prosperity, another tradition is to open all doors, windows, drawers and cabinets to bring in good fortune and let the positive vibes in.

10. Debts must be paid off

Ideally, one should welcome the New Year debt free. It is believed that whatever is your financial state when the clock hits 12 midnight on new year’s day, will be the same financial status for the rest of the year. One should also stuff one’s pockets or wallet with new bills or at least lots of money to invite wealth for the entire year.

They are really quirky but truly interesting, don’t you agree, Mommies and Daddies?.. I am quite curious if there are some similarities on how Filipinos and Japanese celebrate the New Year…

Thank you soooooooo very much for taking time to read my long entry again, Mommies and Daddies… I hope you had a delightful time reading it… Merry Christmas again, everyone!!! May love, forgiveness, and kindness always fill our hearts… … Oh, and I would like to greet ypu all a happy New Year in advance!!! May we all be wonderfully and abundantly blessed this 2024… May this new year bring us all shades of beautiful and meaningful… Thank you soooooo very BIG, Mommy Kayo, Mommies and Daddies and my incomparable and amazing little English buds… See you again next year!!!