𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘: “New Year’s Eve Superstitions: Traditional, quirky ways Filipinos welcome New Year’s Eve” by Reniza Manalaysay

 

Published by: John Kurt Gabriel Reyes

Date Published: December 31, 2023

Time Published: 7:00 PM

With only less than 24 hours left before the start of the New Year, children are blowing 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘵 (trumpets) and the fireworks are blasting all over the streets in anticipation for 2024. Pans clanging and nostalgic sounds of our mother’s commands as they cook for the awaited 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘦 once the clock strikes 12. However, aside from evocative meals at dinner time, New Year comes with a few unusual superstitions that are followed by most Filipino households as they welcome the Earth’s new revolution around the sun.

The Philippines is known for its rich culture birthed by the merging of values from multiple races and ethnicities. It is developed through influence of Chinese traders, Spanish conquerors, and American rulers, making it a big melting pot of different traditions, including the superstitions for the belief of a good and prosperous new year.

On this day, December 31, the last day of 2023, let’s unleash some of the most common beliefs and superstitions that beautifies the culture of the Philippines.

𝐉𝐔𝐌𝐏 𝐀𝐓 𝐄𝐗𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐋𝐘 12 𝐎’𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓

A very common belief, often disguised as playful banter, is jumping as high as you can the minute the clock hits midnight [1]. Parents often encourage the children to hop multiple times in the belief that jumping could make them taller. The higher the jump is, the higher you can grow. The exact origin of this belief is not known. However, evidence of this practice is dated back from as far as the 1940s [2].

Jumping during New Year’s eve is not entirely unique to Filipinos. Brazilians also adhere to the same tradition, but with slight differences. They jump exactly seven (7) times over the waves, making wishes in between each hop [3].

Although how they practice it is different from ours, the similarity lies in the fact that we all want something as we go down from the jump. Fun as it seems, this specific superstition is not true. According to experts, the development of one’s height is not impacted by how high they jump during new year’s eve. In fact, it is often genetic and can only be altered through exercise, proper nutrition, and healthy lifestyle [4].

This means that regardless of how breathless you’d be after jumping, your height would remain the same if not improved properly.

𝐂𝐈𝐑𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐑 𝐅𝐑𝐔𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄, 𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄!

Have you experienced an intense craving for an apple, yet you aren’t allowed to eat one unless it's time? The design for that might have come from the belief of keeping 12 or 13 circular fruits as you welcome the midnight.

This superstition came from the influence of Chinese culture. It is believed that having 12 round-shaped fruits would allow a year-long good fortune and good luck to the family—one fruit for each month [5]. Among these fruits, the most common are apples, oranges, watermelons, melons, and grapes.

The reason behind the specific shape of the fruits is because of its similar form to coins or money [6]. By eating 12 fruits of this shape, money would continue to come all-year round. However, beware of fruits that are spiky in nature as the spikes represent the struggles that may come forth.

𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐔𝐏𝐈𝐃!

Since the table is already filled with fruits, this superstition is doable if you have 12 wishes you want to attain.

Some Filipinos, especially those who ran out of luck for love, believe that eating 12 grapes under the table during midnight would help you secure a happy love life [7]. This can be traced back from Spaniards who eat ‘𝘶𝘷𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘦 𝘭𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘦’ or lucky grapes, everytime the bell chimes, making a silent wish after every grape. The circular shape of the grape also provides financial good luck since the shape resembles money.

𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐃 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐒

Can anyone remember the ringing sound of lato-lato from a few months back? That’s fortunate because those are the sounds that will protect you from bad luck.

In Filipino tradition, New Year’s Eve is one of the loudest holidays because of the 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘵 (trumpets) and fireworks set on the streets. This action is not only to express joy for the new year. In Chinese tradition, it is believed that loud noises, including car horns, videokes, and hitting pans, are effective in chasing away bad luck [8]. These bad luck are from evil spirits and elements believed to be lurking in the dark.

𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐄, 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐒

“Family that sticks together, stays together”, a very common phrase interpreted literally during new year’s eve. Filipino families are known for their tight-knit relationship and everlasting filial duties. That is why as new year’s eve comes near, native 𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘴 and different sticky foods such as Tikoy, are sought after to be placed at the table.

The superstition in the fortunes brought by sticky rice comes from Chinese culture. According to superstitions, having kakanin like kutsinta, biko, suman, and sapin-sapin served during 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘦 would provide stronger bonds to the family [9]. The bond that will make the relationship tighter, quite literally sticking each member to one another.

These superstitions are just some of the many values that make celebrating fun. They represent the colorful life of every single Filipino household that welcomes a new year with the hopes of a prosperous and fortune-filled life. Let us bear in mind that fortune comes not only from the rounded fruits or loud sounds, but also to our attitude and perseverance all-year round.

REFERENCES:

[1] California State University, Bakersfield. (n.d.). Culture and Tourism. https://www.csub.edu/pac.../countryprospectus/culture.htm....

[2] Lasco, G. (2014). A tall tale: Jumping at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve to make you grow taller. https://www.gideonlasco.com/.../a-tall-tale-jumping-at....

[3] Johnson, S. (2022). New year’s eve traditions­ – Brazil. Little Birdies.

https://shoplittlebirdies.com/.../new-year-s-eve...

[4] Pabalate, N. (2021, January 6). Does jumping on New Year’s eve make children tall?. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/.../does-jumping-on-new-years-eve-make...

[5] Luistro, M.A. (2022, December 31). 13 Filipino New Year’s Eve traditions and superstitions. Hong Kong News. https://hongkongnews.com.hk/.../13-filipino-new-years.../

[6] Kesh, J. (2023, December, 30). The Meaning Behind Eating Round Fruit On New Year's. Daily Meal. https://www.thedailymeal.com/.../twelve-round-fruit-new.../

[7] Morris, S. (2023, December 29). Why do people eat grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve?. The Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/.../12-lucky-grapes-new-years...

[8] Haven, G. (2021, December 27). Filipino’s new year traditions and superstitions. Golden Haven. https://www.goldenhaven.com.ph/.../filipinos-new-year.../

[9] Vanzi, S. (2023, December 18). What to eat and not to eat on New Year’s Eve. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/.../what-to-eat-and-not-to-eat-on-new...