how do people in the phillippnes celebrate new year ?

1. Filipinos literally start the year with a bang. Just a few days before New Year's eve, you will see lots of side walk vendors selling different kinds of firecrakers.

2. The noise and the firecrackers is belive to drive the evil spirit away and make the New Year bountiful and blessed.

3. You should put coins/money in your pocket so that next year will be prosperous.

4. You should open all the windows, doors lights so that all the graces will come to your home as you welcome the New Year.

5. Some believe that you have to wear polka dots shirts or dress because it symbolise money, and it must have a deep pocket and filled with money bills and coins and jingled it at the stroke of midnight for good luck .

6. Some people pay off their debts in the hope that they will not be saddled with debt throughout the year.


7. The countdown of New year varies from family to family or from region to region. At the strike of 12:00 midnight, the noise becomes defeaning, churchbells rings , firecrackers rules the sky, kids gaping in awe as they see the different firecrackers, blooming in the sky.

8. Around 12:15 am, the noise stops and the air is filled with human voice and the family starts to eat a thanksgiving feast called Media Noche, it is believe that we should put as much food on the table so that next year you will have food all year round.

9. Twelve round fruits should be on the table as it is a sign of prosperity for the next twelve months.

10. A midnight mass celebration to welcome the New Year and to thank God for all His blessings.

11. Some people pay off their debts in the hope that they will not be saddled with debt throughout the year.

New Year's Day
New Year's Day, or Araw ng Bagong Taon is celebrated with the family in or outside the house. The year is greeted on the Bisperas ng Bagong Taon (New Year's Eve) with a lavish feast, called media noche (literally, "middle of the night"). Round shaped foods, sticky or glutinous rice based foods, and various 12 round shaped fruits for each of the months of the year are served. Traditionally, Filipinos, Chinese, and Spaniards stay at home, the latter serving parties lavishly, which almost always includes a lechon (suckling roasted pig). However, more and more of the younger generation and the recent immigrants such as Americans have popularized the celebration of the New Year in grand hotels, restaurants, in parks, and in streets. Children light firecrackers such as watusi or the sinturon ni Hudas (Judas' belt), while adults spend the night recollecting the year, and, in many families, involves a Bible reading..


Last Day of the Year Celebrations
Citing the Filipino tradition of New Year's day, the Philippine Congress decided to formally recognize December 31 as an annual non-working holiday where it is sandwiched in between two official Philippine holidays (these being Rizal Day and New Year's Day).