REVIEW | New Year Superstitions

New Year Superstitions

You know how as Filipinos, we tend to be very superstitious on important events, like New Year for instance. When we were young, our parents taught us the DOs and DON'Ts at the struck of midnight. Now when I think about how strange our superstitious belief system is, I just laugh about it.

For example and I quote my friend #Rachel who sent me the message below ( which sounded like a Chinese expert )

Para hindi malas new year natin ha...wag handa bilog prutas itim buto gaya pakwan, chico atbp.wag din handa ice cream pala di tunaw swerte,higit sa lahat...wag handa apat paa tulad baboy, baka, kambing kasi baka takbo malayo ang swerte...wag din isda alimango at lamang dagat kasi baka lunod ang swerte...wag din handa may pakpak tulad manok o pabo baka lipad swerte.Pala sigurado pasok swerte sa 2015...wag na handa.

Translation:
For New Year to be lucky...Do not prepare fruits with dark seeds like watermelon, chico, etc.Do not prepare ice cream as well, so luck will not melt.Most of all...Do not prepare anything that has four legs such as pork, beef, goat because luck might run far away...Do not also prepare fish, crabs or any sea food because luck might drown...Do not also prepare anything that has wings such as chicken or turkey because luck might fly.To make sure that 2015 is lucky...Do not prepare anything.

This brilliant advise came out in the middle of our discussion on what to bring for New Year's Eve. It's just funny but Filipinos are deeply following this afraid that something unlucky could come if anything DON'T has been done.

Some other Filipino superstitions which bear a strong Chinese influence would include:

• Make as much noise as you can to scare away evil spirits. 
• Turn on all lights so that the coming year is bright. 
• Open all doors, windows, cabinets and drawers to let good fortune in. 
• Debts must be paid off. Fill you wallet with fresh peso bills. (Filipinos believe that whatever your financial state is in at the stroke of midnight, so it will be in the new year.)
• Clean everything. 
• Wear polka-dots. Anything round signifies prosperity. 
• Scatter coins around the house, on tabletops.... inside drawers… 
• Jump twelve times at midnight to increase your height. (Observed by Filipino children.) 

See related article from- 15 Filipino Superstitions on New Year's Eve

But whatever belief we have, what is more important is that we always work hard in order to achieve our future plans. It won't hurt to pray to God and ask for His guidance. In the end, it is us who will make our lives truly lucky or unlucky. Your choice.

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Sources:

15 Filipino Superstitions on New Year's Eve (Tagalog Lang)


How do you celebrate your own New Year? We'd love to hear more from. Just write your comments below.