People are so quirky with their superstitions, you know? But when in Rome...or Manila, Barcelona, or Irving - celebrate with the people!
(ASIA) PHILIPPINES
Traditionally, most households stage a dinner party named Media Noche in their homes. My mom used to do this and her typical dishes included pancit, lumpia, and hamon (jamon in Spanish, ham in English). If we celebrated in Manila, we would have lechon, which is roasted pig, and it is usually considered as the centerpiece of the dinner table.
Barbecued food is also an integral part of the menu. Most Filipinos follow a set of traditions that are typically observed during New Year's Eve.
Included among these traditions is the customary habit of wearing clothes with circular patterns like polka dots.
This signifies the belief that circles attract money and fortune or other colorful clothing to show enthusiasm for the coming year. Throwing coins at the stroke of midnight is said to increase wealth that year. Filipino children were also told to jump 12 times at the stroke of midnight to increase their height. Yeah, that never really worked out for me because I'm barely 5 ft tall.
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| The Filipinos always "make it rain" on New Year's Eve with coins! |
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| Wear Polka Dots to get RICH! Totally makes sense. |
(EUROPE) SPAIN
It is traditional to eat twelve grapes, one on each chime of the clock before midnight. After spending NYE 1999 in Barcelona with my sister and brother-in-law, I've kept this tradition with my own family.
Additionally, the Mexicans also follow similar traditions, but Michael and his family never did this. They pretty much followed the same American traditions.
Anyway, when I asked the Spaniards why they did that, I think they were too busy drinking and partying to explain the whole history to me, so I had to look up the following information on Google:
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| Just gobble up the grapes in twelve seconds! GO! |
This tradition has its origins in 1909, when grape growers in Alicante thought of it as a way to cut down on the large production surplus they had had that year. Nowadays, the tradition is followed by almost every Spaniard, and the twelve grapes have become synonymous with the New Year. After the clock has finished striking twelve, people greet each other and toast with sparkling wine such as cava or champagne, or alternatively with cider.
They also wear red underwear for New Year's Eve. I was given a brand new pair as a gift when I was celebrating in Barcelona. I remember asking why they do this, but I don't remember what they said.
Perhaps it was the vino....but anyway, once again, I looked it up and here is why: wearing red underwear dates back to the Middle Ages when it was not allowed to wear red garments. The color was associated with blood, evil, and witchcraft.
However, people wore red anyway because in the dark
winter, red was a symbol of life. They wore red undergarments to avoid the major punishment of wearing red – the gallows! Plus, I think red is a sexy color!
(NORTH AMERICA) USA
When I was ten years old, I got to spend NYE in Times Square with my whole family. It was crowded, scary, and fun! That was my first taste of the American New Year's Eve tradition!
Now eating black eyed peas is my taste of the American New Year's Eve tradition, and it's supposed to bring good luck, too, right?I guess their shapes look like coins, which symbolized gaining wealth.
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| The food, not the band |
CHINESE NEW YEAR
Last year, I got to celebrate Chinese New Year in Manila, which included lots of percussionists on the streets wearing their Dragon costumes and just dancing and being wild on the streets. The dragon dancing was pretty cool, and the red envelopes or packets they gave contain money of even numbers, usually given from the elder to the younger. I think I remember getting a red envelope last year, but I don't remember getting any money! HA! But that was a fun experience.
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| You can buy these at your neighborhood Asian store! They are so much fun!!! |
IRVING, TEXAS NEW YEAR
Tonight the Pulidos are honoring our multicultural traditions by doing a little bit of everything. We ate some black eyed peas, we got our twelve grapes prepared, we're going to throw coins, and we're wearing red or red-like undergarments. We're going to watch the ball drop and then pass out into the New Year. T
he kids will play some Nerf wars and make a zombie video, and Mommy and Daddy will drink their Mommy and Daddy juice. Let's hope 2010 brings all of us a year of peace, prosperity, blessings, and much love!
Happy New Year, Maligayang Bagong Taon, y Feliz Ano Nuevo to all ya'll!
