Friday, January 1, 2010

Filipino superstitions at New Year


The Philippines has many superstitions pertaining to the New Year. Most Filipino superstitions derive in hopes for blessings, particularly the abundance of food and money. Firstly, Filipinos believe that at New Year's eve, the doors and windows should be open for blessings to come into the house. The logic behind this is that if the windows and doors are open, it will invite good luck to flow into the house. Another example of a Filipino superstition is the belief that wearing polka dots on New Year's eve will bring lots of money throughout the year. This superstition derived from the belief that polka dots are a symbol of money, particularly coins. Round fruit is also a representation of money. Putting twelve round fruits on the table is believed to bring in lots of money for every month of the new year. Another Filipino superstition says that if someone were to put money in their pocket on New Year's eve, he or she will have money for the rest of the year.

There are so many interesting Filipino superstitions or folk beliefs associated with New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in the Philippines. Filipinos say you should observe the following customs and traditions to ensure that the new year being welcomed is a prosperous one. Many of these superstitions bear a strong Chinese influence.
15 Filipino Superstitions on New Year's Eve

1. Make as much noise as you can to scare away evil spirits.

2. Turn on all lights so that the coming year is bright.

3. Open all doors, windows, cabinets and drawers to let good fortune in.

4. Debts must be paid off. Fill you wallet with fresh peso bills. (Filipinos believe that whatever your financial state is in at the stroke of midnight, so it will be in the new year.)

5. Clean everything.

6. Wear polka-dots. Anything round signifies prosperity.

7. Scatter coins around the house, on tabletops.... inside drawers...

FOOD-RELATED SUPERSTITIONS

8. Prepare 12 round fruits, one for each month of the coming new year.

9. Have a very round grape in your mouth at the stroke of midnight.

10. Eat a native delicacy made from sticky rice to make good fortune stick in the new year.

11. Eat long noodles (pansit) for long life.

12. Jump twelve times at midnight to increase your height. (Observed by Filipino children.)

13. Don't have chicken or fish. They are associated with the scarcity of food.

ON NEW YEAR'S DAY ITSELF

14. Don't clean anything! You might sweep away the good fortune that came in on New Year's Eve.

15. Don't spend money at all. Your thriftiness on the first day of the year will augur your money management in the coming year.

Follow these rituals and you're sure to have a Happy New Year in 2010!
Source:tagaloglang

7 comments:

Seiko December 31, 2009 at 5:22 PM  

I like this post.Meron din ilan na ngayon ko lang nalaman after reading it.Thanks for the sharing.Have a very happy new year to you & your family!
Hugs!

analou January 1, 2010 at 10:18 PM  

Hello SHydub. It is very interesting post. Most of these superstitious beliefs are very familiar to me but there are some that I did not know that being practice by our filipinos. Whatever it is, It doesn't hurt to have this beliefs whether it is true or not.

Have a happy new year friend and I hope your new year will bring you and your family good health, happiness and prosperity.

Mel Avila Alarilla January 2, 2010 at 11:53 AM  

I discarded all those superstitious beliefs when I became born again. I never want my life to be controlled by superstitious beliefs that mostly came from Chinese superstition. I no longer subscribed to good luck or bad luck or those feng shui things. I just subscribed to command of God in Exodus and Deuteronomy which says, to obey God's will will bring blessings and to disobey brings curses. So I sleep soundly at night knowing that my family, my loved ones and me are cared for by the Lord at all times. He is the great provider for all our needs. Thanks for the informative post. God bless you all always.

Welcoming 2010 January 2, 2010 at 3:34 PM  

Hello there. Happy New Year!

Anonymous,  January 2, 2010 at 3:36 PM  
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous,  January 2, 2010 at 3:43 PM  

Sorry, I was trying to delete the first one and got messed up.

Happy New Year!


Welcoming 2010

Sheryl January 3, 2010 at 3:39 PM  

waaaahhhh!!! kaya pala hindi effective ung pagtalon-talon ko every new year, dapat pala 12 times???

hehehe....

happy new year too!!!

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