As we prepare to greet the dawn of a new year, a myriad of cultures around the world hold tightly to their own unique customs and superstitions as a means of ushering in good luck and keeping negativity at bay on New Year’s Eve. In the Philippines, superstitions and beliefs regarding the New Year run deep within the fabric of their culture, particularly when it comes to the selection of food and what to avoid.
Amidst a tapestry of superstitions, it is the role of food to act as a harbinger of luck and prosperity for the forthcoming year. Every morsel laid upon the dining table is believed to cast a direct influence upon one’s fortune for the next 365 days. Let’s peer into the symbolic significance of food as we bid adieu to the old year and extend a warm embrace to the new one, brimming with optimism and positivity.
Foods of Fortune
Filipinos place great importance on the symbolic meanings of particular foods as harbingers of a year enriched with robust health, abundance, and prosperity. Many of these choices in culinary fare are rooted in the appearance and cultural context of these food items:
Pork: Pigs are reverently regarded as a symbol of luck due to their plumpness, making dishes like lechon an indispensable component of New Year’s festivities.
Noodles: Across various cultures, noodles are symbolic of longevity and abundance, rendering them a staple on New Year’s Eve.
Greens: Verdant, leafy vegetables are deemed to attract wealth and are thus relished during the celebratory feast.
Fish: With their scales resembling coins and their penchant for swimming in schools pointing to abundance, fish takes on a fortunate mantle.
Cake: Round-shaped cakes symbolize the coming full circle, rendering them a popular choice for dessert.
Fruit: The tradition of having thirteen different kinds of round fruit on New Year’s Eve beckons prosperity for each month of the impending year.
Sticky Rice: Dishes made with sticky rice are perceived to fortify family bonds and bestow good fortune.
Superstitions for Invoking Prosperity
Beyond the culinary customs, Filipinos adhere to various rituals in an effort to beckon a prosperous New Year:
Wear Polka Dots: Adorning oneself in anything adorned with circular designs, such as polka dots, is believed to summon wealth and prosperity.
Midnight Jumping: Leaping as high as possible at the stroke of midnight is thought to contribute to the physical growth of children.
No Poultry or Fish: It’s advised to avoid dishes featuring chicken and fish to stave off any potential scarcity.
Coins in Pockets: Filling one’s pockets with coins and jingling them at midnight is believed to bring forth good fortune.
Loud Noises: The creation of loud noises such as fireworks serves the purpose of banishing malevolent spirits and ill luck.
Open Doors, Windows, and Lights: The act of flinging open all apertures, toggling on light switches, and drawing open curtains is thought to usher in good fortune into the home.
Superstitions to Adhere to and Avoid
In keeping with folk beliefs, settling debts, abstaining from expenditures on January 1st, commencing the New Year with one’s right foot, and eschewing domestic chores including laundry are critical practices to secure a propitious year ahead. Additionally, single women are encouraged to gaze out of their bedroom window at the stroke of midnight and share a kiss with a potential love interest, potentially paving the way for amorous engagements in the coming year.
In conclusion, New Year’s Eve superstitions pulse through the veins of Filipino culture, and these beliefs persist through the ages, steadfastly entwined within the tapestry of the nation’s rich traditions. As we bid adieu to the passing year and extend a warm welcome to the one that awaits, these customs serve as a tether to unite families and communities, all seeking a year teeming with fortune, jubilance, and prosperity. Armed with the right gastronomic delights, rituals, and a spirit brimming with hope, Filipinos ardently embrace these traditions, ushering in the New Year with open arms and an optimistic gaze into the future.
