Let's Talk About: Pinoy's New Year's Superstitions/Traditions

FOOD RELATED

     Media Noche (Spanish for “midnight”) or Bisperas ng Bagong Taon (“New Year’s Eve” in Tagalog) is a festive time here in the Philippines. There are a lot of traditions that Filipinos follow in the belief of ushering in a prosperous New Year. Many of these customs you may recognize as bearing Chinese influence.

     Part of the fun in getting ready for New Year’s Eve is to come up with 12 round fruits, each to signify a month of the year. Ideally, there should be twelve different fruits — grapes, oranges, clementines, cantaloupe, pomelo, watermelon… It’s a tough challenge, so half the fruits likely end up being non-circular like mangoes and apples. The fruit that Filipinos most associate with the celebration of the new year and will rarely be without is imported ubas, purple grapes that are very round. 

     Filipinos usually don’t eat fish and chicken dishes during New Year’s Eve, as they symbolize scarcity of food.

BE NOISY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

     Filipinos go all out with the noise on New Year’s eve. Filipino paputok (firecrackers) come in so many shapes and go by very interesting names — Sinturon ni Hudas (Judas' Belt - a string of firecrackers), Super Lolo (“grandfather”), Kwitis (from the Spanish word 'cohetes' meaning 'rocket'), Bawang (“garlic”), Baby Rocket, Watusi, Pla Pla, Airwolf… Some firecrackers are already banned since they are very dangerous for children, not only for children but also for the adults. It's because some of their fingers are being blown-up and other accidents too!

     Children love scratching the dancing firecracker watusi against concrete sidewalks and cemented surfaces, although the government has been warning against it because of chemical poisoning.

     Pots and pans are clanged to scare away evil spirits. A few men shoot guns in the air if they think they can get away with it. Cars and trucks are vroomed and horns are tooted to cause as much noise as possible. Empty cans are dragged all around, whistles are blown.

     So by the end of New Year, lots of 'ligaw na bala' (stray bullets) shot a person will be all over the news, even the accidents due to firecrackers!

OTHER FILIPINO TRADITIONS ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

• Open all doors, cabinets, windows and drawers to let good fortune in.
• Filipinos try to dress in polka-dots because the roundness signifies prosperity.
• Pockets are filled with round coins, which are jangled to attract wealth. We scatter coins as well around the house.
• At the exact moment of midnight, Filipino children jump as high as they can because they believe this will make them taller. (Which I do all the time)
• Whatever condition your wallet is in when the New Year arrives, so it will be the rest of the year. Make sure to put in the money your received on Christmas.
• Filipinos spend the last days of the year vigorously cleaning everything, especially of dust. However, on the first day of the new year, you are not supposed to do any cleaning. No cleaning on New Year’s Day itself!
• And don’t start the year off by spending money. Frugality on the first day sets the tone for wise money management in the coming year.

     We also have these (from left to right - rice- water - salt). My mother said it is for the continuous grace of blessings in terms of primary needs. We also have eggs in a bowl, which is still unknown to me of what it is for.

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Disclaimer: Most information are gathered from the internet. 😁

Let's Talk About: The Perks of Christmas

     Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that is celebrated all around the world, therefore, it's the most wonderful time of the year. Eventhough, Christmas is a holiday in many countries, it is not to all.

    We are accustomed to include exchanging of gifts, decorating Christmas trees, caroling with friends or family, sharing meals with the family, attending church and, in other countries, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive through their chimneys.

     Christmas songs started to play immediately after 'All Saints' Day' (Nov. 1) and 'All Souls' Day' (Nov. 2), apparently, it shows to say how much we are excited for this particular holiday that every once in a year happens. I mean, why not?

     You get new clothes because of Christmas Parties, the foods (Ugh!) and let us not forget that you get presents - which are gonna be either a 'thing' you gonna like/love or money from your parents, friends, godmothers and godfathers, Oh, the joy of presents (and money, of course)!

     So by the end of Christmas, you are practically 'rich', hah! Though, you being 'rich' is gonna be short-live because you're parents will tell you to keep those money as your 'baon' (lunch money or so) at school. So much for buying what you have in mind... *sighs*

     Enough about that! Let's go onto the topic of foods, those delicacies you'll be eating for about a couple of days is absolute heaven!

     We might be on diet but when this time comes and your table is full of mouth-watering foods, you won't hesitate to dig in. I might as well share this little funny scene every time when it is time to eat. Well, we, my family, would grace food or pray first before eating so when their eyes are close, I would sneak a hand to quickly grab a food and shove it into my mouth. When they knew what I was doing, I began to openly eat. They don't mind since they long gave up on scolding me for it. Besides, I am absolutely not the only one doing this kind of sneaky thing *wink wink*. Of course, I do pray once finish to give my gratitude.

     There is also this thing that neighbors always do on Christmas Eve. Basically, we live in a compound which all residents are our landlady's daughters' and sons' family and there are only two of us residents who are aliens, haha! We share what we have and prepared.

     Here, in Philippines, we don't have winter, but around December, the temperature are cooler until February thus our (or just mine) sleep is good around dawn - its colder, that's why it's getting hard to wake up (for me, I guess). So, yeah, colder temperature is one of the perks of Christmas here as well.

     So, that's all I can think of.

Pinoy Christmas ft. New Year

     Apparently, after Christmas comes New Year, so we will also gonna cover New Year here in Pinoy Christmas.

     Here's Pinoy Christmas ft. New Year!

It's Christmas

"Merry Christmas, everyone."

😃😃😃

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* Brought to you by: Our Beloved Minions. 

Random: Unmade Christmas Foods

Random: Christmas Lights

Let's Talk About: Christmas Trees and Parols

     Of course, without the festive decorations like Christmas Trees for the Westerns and Parols (an ornamental, star-shaped Christmas lantern) for the Filipinos, we won't be feeling the atmosphere of Christmas. So, in this article, we are gonna talk about Christmas Trees and Parols. 🙌

 Christmas Tree  (Western Culture) 

    Who can forget about this tree? When it comes to decorations for Christmas, we immediately go for Christmas Trees. We can decorate it in accordance to our liking; put multiple lights on it,  star on top of it, ribbons with varying colors like red, gold, and white, big/small Christmas balls, little candy canes, tinsel, etc..

    Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes.

     By the 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on the rise around the U.S. It was noted that Europeans used small trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas trees to reach from floor to ceiling.

     The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while the German-American sect continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity brought about Christmas lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across the country and having a Christmas tree in the home became an American tradition.   
     In our house, we don't have it since our ceiling is not that high and there is not enough space for it. But we did had one which was handmade and small that it was standing ontop of one of our cabinets, still, it was so cute.
 

 Parol (Philippines) 

     Fresh pine trees are too expensive for many Filipinos, so handmade trees in an array of colors and sizes are often used. Star lanterns, or parol, appear everywhere in December. They are made from bamboo sticks, covered with brightly colored rice paper or cellophane, and usually feature a tassel on each point. There is usually one in every window, each representing the Star of Bethlehem.

     Parols are as important to Filipinos as the Christmas Tree to Western Culture.The earliest parols were traditionally made from simple materials like bamboo sticks, Japanese rice paper, crepe paper, and a candle or coconut oil-lamp for illumination; although the present day parol can take many different shapes and forms. Around Manila, parols made of Capiz shell or plastic illuminate the city. One of the most spectacular innovations can be found in the city of San Fernando where 20 foot tall parols with kaleidoscopic blinking lights are paraded through the streets on truck beds. Whatever the material or shape, the parol is a recognizable symbol to all Filipinos and represents the star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Wise Men to the manger of the newly-born Jesus Christ.

     Its annual debut on houses and streets is usually in September along with other Christmas symbols, signaling the coming of the season. These lanterns remain until January, traditionally removed after Epiphany, to honor the Three Kings and their visit to the infant Jesus.

     When I was in Elementary, the school has this competition or contest where we are to make a parol made out of recylcled materials and whoever has the most beautiful one and most recycled materials used will win which is a very good deal. It became hard for the judges since the parols where beautifully crafted and you can see how much effort the student gave for making it. Though the parol that didn't made it, were still hung on the doors of each classrooms while the 5 picked out were hung in front of the school gates.

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     Regardless of difference in Christmas symbols, we still celebrate Christmas as a whole.

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Disclaimer: Most information gathered are from the Internet.

Let's Talk About: Gifts

     Do you already have a gift prepared for whomever you wish to send out to? Well, if you haven't have one yet and is struggling to pick or find one, you still have time (6 days) to think of something your parents, friends or others would like/love. It doesn't have to be big nor does it have to be extravagant just to boast what you are capable of buying. This is not a competition on who gives an outstanding present to someone. Let us not forget what Christmas is for and what it brings us to do.

     "It is not the gift, but the thought that counts." - Henry Vandyke

     "Some gifts are big, others are small, but the ones that come from the heart are the best gifts of all." - Tinku Razoria

     I, personally, already picked out a gift for my someone but it is still yet to be wrapped - I'm lazy like that. It isn't really that much if I say so myself, but I am (strongly) hoping that they'll love it since they like things like what I bought and it immediately reminded me of them.

     You don't have to beat your head with a rock, just think of something that they would like - please, you would know it if you pay attention to them - and go for it and if it is something that you can't buy, think of an alternative. I highly recommend DIYs since it shows your effort, time and sincerity, and, again, it doesn't have to be wildly amazing or something. Just do what you can, what you are capable of.

     You still have time. 😊

So Close

"CHRISTMAS is just around the corner."

How Santa Got His Job

     Upon browsing my facebook wall, I stumbled upon this video and since it is somewhat has this 'Christmas-Theme Thingy' because of Santa Claus 😁, I want to share it with you. It made me laugh and I am hoping it will also make you laugh.

    Oh! And we still have 7 more days to go 'till Christmas, peeps.

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Disclaimer: I don't own the video. 😁

©: to the rightful owner of the said video above.