Pinoy Style Good old ways to greet the year

CEBU, Philippines -  Filipinos are known for their tradition-oriented lifestyle. Because of their interesting heritage and cultural past, they have inherited many beliefs and traditions for almost every occasion, the New Year not excluded. Here are the things many Filipinos have since believed are the best ways to greet the New Year:

NEW YEAR’S EVE

•Fireworks / firecrackers / trumpets

Many believe lighting up firecrackers or fireworks can scare bad spirits away. Emma Casiño, however, does not heed the same. She says firecrackers are dangerous. Perhaps trumpets locally known as “torotot” may suit her just fine, as they do not involve fire but the noise can, nevertheless, scare bad spirits away. Each trumpet costs P10 to P120.

•13 round-shaped fruits

Round fruits like apple, melon, orange, grapes, pineapple, and guava are said to be symbols of money and/or good fortune. This, indeed, is good fortune for fruit vendors like Lorena Vitor and Sergio Real, Jr. They said that at this time of the year, they usually earn at least P10,000 a day. Marissa Carreon, a housewife, says she does not necessarily believe in this interpretation but still buys the fruits out of practice.

•Media Noche

On New Year’s eve, Filipinos stay with their family and cook plenty of food, the most common of which are noodles such as “pansit” and sticky foods like those made of sticky rice. Noodles are said to be signs of long life while sticky food symbolizes a stronger bond among family members.

•Smoking “insenso and kamangyan”

“Insenso and kamangyan” are herbal medicines. Smoking these are believed to fend evil spirits. Elvie dela Cruz and Victoria Langamin, vendors of these herbal medicine, said they can earn up to P2,000 pesos a day during this time of the year, unlike during regular days when they only earn up to P500 a day.

•Coins

Clanking coins inside a piggy bank is believed to bring in good fortune. Dominador Go Jr., a store manager, says he prepares a lot of coins every New Year. The more coins, the more noise is made.

•Sugar and Rice

Throwing sugar and rice throughout the house is another long-standing Filipino tradition. Since the grains of sugar and rice are difficult to count, it is believed that the household will have countless blessings the whole year through.

•A glass of water on the top most part of the house

Victoria Langamin is among those who believe that doing so can keep the peace in the house because the people living there will be cool-tempered the rest of the year

•Massaging a baby

Massaging a baby as the New Year enters is believed to strengthen the baby’s bones.

•Switching all appliances on

By doing so, all appliances are believed to function the whole year.

On first day  of the year

•Being thrifty

Others say that spending on the first day of the year will make one lose money easily in the remainder of the year, but Lilia Ridle believes otherwise. She says spending on the first day would mean you’ll have money to spend the whole year through.

•Keeping the first income

Not spending the first earning of the year would mean one will always have money on hand for the rest of the year, says Manuel Caramelo, a vendor of herbal medicine.

•Behaving good on the first day

Others say that if a person behaves well on the first day of the year, it is most likely that he or she will behave the same way for the rest of the year. But Sergio Real does not heed this argument. “Kana bitaw’ng muingon nga dili na moinom nya ig sunod adlaw mo inom diay to,” he said.

Filipinos may have a lot of beliefs and traditions. Others strongly believe in them, others only follow them because of tradition, while others simply don’t conform.

Dayan Balang-at says: “Tuo-tuo ra man gud na. Depende ra gyud na sa taw kon unsaon niya pagdala iyang kaugalingon.”  (FREEMAN)