#6: Manigong Bagong Taon!

December 30, 2009

Maaga-aga ito kasi magiging abala ang lahat sa paghahanda para sa bagong taon. This is a tad early because everyone will be busy preparing for the new year.

Happy New Year in Tagalog  https://www.tagaloglang.com/ny
(The video will lock up older browsers.)

New Year’s Eve is the noisiest time of the year in the Philippines. Filipino paputok (firecrackers) come in so many shapes and go by very interesting names — judas belt (a string of firecrackers), super lolo (“grandfather”), kwitis (from the Spanish word cohetes meaning rocket), bawang (“garlic”), airwolf…

Children love scratching the dancing firecracker watusi against concrete sidewalks and cemented surfaces, and 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.

A lot of food is prepared. Pancit (noodles) are cooked to signify long life, as are eggs signifying new life. Traditional delicacies made from malagkit (glutinous or sticky rice) like biko are prepared — that’s so good fortune will stick around throughout the year.

Part of the fun in getting ready for New Year’s Eve is to come up with twelve (12) round fruits, each to signify a month of the year. Ideally, there should be twelve different fruits — grapes, oranges, clementines, cantaloupe, pomelo, watermelon… 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.

Other Traditions on New Year’s Eve https://www.tagaloglang.com/ny-eve

There are so many interesting Filipino superstitions or folk beliefs associated with New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in the Philippines. Filipinos say you should observe the following customs and traditions to ensure that the new year being welcomed is a prosperous one.

1. Make as much noise as you can to scare away evil spirits.

2. Turn on all lights so that the coming year is bright.

3. Open all doors, windows, cabinets and drawers to let good fortune in.

4. 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.)

5. Clean everything.

6. Wear polka-dots. Anything round signifies prosperity.

7. Scatter coins around the house, on tabletops…. inside drawers…

15 Filipino Superstitions on New Year’s Eve  https://www.tagaloglang.com/superstitions

Wish family and friends a Happy New Year in Tagalog!  Here are a few greetings you can write down or say as a toast.

Kasiyahan, Katuwaan at Tawanan sa Bisperas ng Bagong Taon!
Fun, Merriment and Laughter on New Year’s Eve!

More Tagalog greetings for the New Year https://www.tagaloglang.com/greet

Our next newsletter is scheduled to come out sa taong Dalawang Libo at Sampu (in the year Two Thousand and Ten).