Fireworks, Polka Dots, and Fortune: How Filipinos Welcome the New Year
Discover the colorful and quirky traditions that make a Filipino New Year truly unique.
Leaping into the New Year - Filipino style!
When it comes to celebrating the New Year, Filipinos don’t hold back. We don’t just mark the changing of the calendar. We make it a full-blown, all-out fiesta filled with noise, food, and traditions that you won’t find anywhere else. Curious about how we do it? Let me take you on a fun ride through some of the most unique Filipino New Year traditions.
Fireworks Galore: The Louder, the Better
Forget about subtlety. Filipinos believe that noise scares away bad spirits so we make sure to crank it up! Fireworks light up the skies and the streets echo with the pops and bangs of various firecrackers (locally called paputok). If you’re not into pyrotechnics, no worries. Pots and pans, car horns, and even karaoke machines work just as well. The goal is to make enough noise to usher in good luck and keep bad vibes away.
Growing up, I had a personal affinity with fireworks. As a teenager, I always made sure to have the iconic “triangles,” those tiny firecrackers you light and toss before they go bang. I remember holding one in my hand, feeling both excitement and fear as it sparked to life, making sure that I threw it in time. At one point, I even got adventurous (or foolish) enough to try a homemade bamboo cannon. It was exhilarating! But the loud booming sound it produced shook me to my core that it became just a one-time endeavor.
Food, Glorious Food
No Filipino celebration is complete without food, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. The Media Noche (midnight feast) is the grand highlight of the evening. It features a spread of Filipino favorites that symbolize prosperity, good fortune, and strong family ties. Staples like pancit (stir-fried noodles) represents long life, while sticky rice cakes such as bibingka and kakanin are believed to keep the family bond tight. And let’s not forget the lechon, the star of any Filipino feast, with its irresistibly crispy skin and juicy, flavorful meat.
As the clock strikes twelve and the fireworks light up the sky, families gather around the table to partake in the feast. It’s a moment of joy, laughter, and gratitude as everyone digs into the abundance laid before them, sharing stories and making wishes for the coming year. In true Filipino fashion, the Media Noche is more than just a meal; it’s a celebration of togetherness, resilience, and hope for a prosperous year ahead.
Media Noche: The Filipino midnight magic spread. Photo by Roderick Suñaz Sumalinog
12 Round Fruits: A Feast of Fortune
Walk into any Filipino household on New Year’s Eve and you’re bound to find a table adorned with 12 round fruits - one for every month of the year. Why round? Because circles symbolize coins, and coins mean prosperity. Each is thoughtfully selected to represent abundance and wealth. Tropical fruits like watermelon, mangoes, and guavas lead the way, while Western favorites such as apples and grapes also earn their place on the table. The challenge, of course, is completing the set. Families often go on a frantic hunt for rarer options, like persimmons (mabolos) or kiwis, to ensure their table radiates both variety and good fortune.
This tradition isn’t confined to the Philippines. Filipinos who live abroad make it a point to keep this custom alive. It’s our way of staying connected to home while embracing the New Year with optimism. Beyond the fruits themselves, it’s the ritual and symbolism that truly matter, a shared family activity that brings everyone together in anticipation of a prosperous year ahead.
Polka Dots and Prosperity
On New Year’s Eve, Filipinos take the theme of circles to heart - literally. Aside from the round fruits, our outfits get in on the action too! Wearing polka dots is a cherished tradition, with the round patterns symbolizing coins and, by extension, wealth - turning ourselves into a walking magnet for prosperity. From dresses and shirts to socks, polka dots dominate wardrobes on this special evening. For many, it’s a fun way to visually manifest their hopes for financial success in the coming year, while also adding a festive flair to the celebration.
Those who are more daring add accessories such as gold coins dangling from jewelry. Others even flash a bit of cash as a symbolic gesture of abundance. It’s not about flaunting wealth - it’s about welcoming more of it. This playful yet deeply rooted tradition reflects the Filipino spirit of hope and positivity as they welcome the new year.
Jumping for Joy - and Height
Okay, this one’s for the kids (and the young at heart). As the clock strikes midnight, you’ll see people jumping as high as they can, believing it will help them grow taller in the coming year. Even adults occasionally join in - whether it’s for the laughs or a secret hope to add an inch or two. Surely there is no science behind this but it’s a peculiar tradition that adds to the festive chaos of New Year’s Eve.
This was the one tradition I never missed as a kid. I’d jump with all my might, practically pleading with the universe to grant me a growth spurt. Did it work? Well, I eventually became taller than my dad and surpassed the average height of a Filipino male so there’s that. This act of bouncing into the new year is a fun way to connect with the belief that the coming year will always bring something better - be it a new inch or a new adventure.
Sweeping Away the Bad Luck - Literally
Here’s a fun one: you’re not supposed to clean on New Year’s Day! Sweeping the floor, taking out the trash, or even dusting could accidentally "sweep away" or "throw out" your good fortune for the year ahead. This belief is deeply rooted in the Filipino tradition of preserving luck and abundance, especially during the critical transition from the old year to the new.
In a way, this superstition offers a guilt-free pass to take it easy after all the midnight merrymaking. Instead of scrubbing floors or hauling out trash bags, families use the day to relax, exchange stories, and enjoy Media Noche leftovers. It’s a chance to savor the moment and spend time with loved ones without worrying about chores. Cleaning can wait until the second day of January.
Starting the Year with a Bang - and Some Superstitions
New Year’s Day comes with its own set of do’s and don’ts. Want to ensure good luck? Fill your wallets with bills or your pockets with coins and jingle them around. Want to avoid bad luck? Don’t lend money or pay debts on January 1st. Whether or not you believe in these superstitions, they add a fun layer of tradition to the festivities.
Filipinos truly know how to make the New Year’s celebration special. It’s a blend of noise, food, and faith, with a sprinkle of traditions that make it uniquely ours. So, if you ever get the chance to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the Philippines, brace yourself for an unforgettable night filled with laughter, love, food, and lots of fireworks. Just watch out for those “triangles” that might be inadvertently thrown your way.
Manigong Bagong Taon!