Hello Everyone!!! HAPPY 2014!
I hope you all had a wonderful celebration wether you spent it quietly, or not, with the family or with friends, I hope you're all off to a great start!
Anyway, I just wanted to share with you some of the traditions (or superstitions) our family does on \NEW YEAR's EVE! Actually this is the "typical FILIPINO-WAY" of getting ready for the new year.
1) CLEAN THE HOUSE & EMPTY ALL THE TRASH & LAUNDRY
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Doesn't sound like New Year's Eve fun right?
Well, we believe that we have to start the year with a clean slate -literally too.
Well, we believe that we have to start the year with a clean slate -literally too.
That way, the house will be clean and be welcoming to good vibes throughout the year!
And yes, I do clean like a mad-woman before new year's eve, and since this year, we came back from vacation, I had to do it on the day itself!
Taxing yes, but so worth it I think.
Come to think of it, I think I clean my house more at this time of year than in Spring time!
Taxing yes, but so worth it I think.
Come to think of it, I think I clean my house more at this time of year than in Spring time!
2) MAKE SURE ALL YOUR FOOD SUPPLY IS WELL STOCKED AND FULL
Again, for a bountiful-filled-up year, all my food supplies are fully stocked up to the brim. All bottled containers are re-filled full and rice, which is a primary food staple in our home, abounds.
3) 13 DIFFERENT FRUITS ON THE TABLE
Contrary to popular belief here, 13 is actually a lucky number in Chinese!
The number 13 when pronounced in Mandarin signifies VIBRANCE and ASSURED GROWTH, definitely things you want for your year!
Hence, come new year, there has to be 13 different kinds of round fruits on the table!
The number 13 when pronounced in Mandarin signifies VIBRANCE and ASSURED GROWTH, definitely things you want for your year!
Hence, come new year, there has to be 13 different kinds of round fruits on the table!
I only had 7 different kinds, because I thought it was just 7, but round things mean wealth and prosperity!
4) PLACE COINS ON ALL THE DOORS & WINDOWS OF THE HOME
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This is again for good luck & prosperity, for money to come into the home all year as well!
As per our family's tradition, my kids do this task and place all the coins all around the house!
5)KEEPING ALL THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE HOME ON COME NEW YEARS EVE
This is said to ward off evil spirits and for a BRIGHT year ahead!
6) WEARING POLKA DOTS ON NEW YEARS EVE
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| Luckily we have a lot of great options nowadays |
Thank God for Sequins and this has been a staple for me come new year's eve!
For the boys, they wear lots of beads! Again Round/Circle = GOOD FORTUNE
7) JIGGLING COINS IN YOUR POCKET AS SOON AS MIDNIGHT STRIKES = MORE MONEY FOR THE NEW YEAR
8) FOR THE KIDS , JUMPING AT MIDNIGHT TO BE TALLER!
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| It's so fun to do too even for adults! |
9) PLENTY OF NOISE MAKERS AND FIRE WORKS
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We do this not just for fun, but also with the belief that loud noises also ward of "evil spirits" & vibes from our home. So back in the Philippines, individual households have their own sets of lots of fireworks!!! Can you just imagine the noise and craziness?!!!
This year, we celebrated at our friend's house the Columbian way!
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| Our handsome Colombian hosts - Ricardo & Alex |
1) Running around the block with your suitcase so that you'd be traveling a lot for the year.
2) Eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight making a wish for each grape
3) Burning your New year's resolution before midnight so that they will come true!
4) Wearing Yellow underwear for good luck- don't ask me why, it's just so!
Their home was perfect for the party since all their gorgeous trees were still up...
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| Gold Tree |
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| Blue & Green Tree |
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| Mini Tree |
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| Purple tree |
It was truly a fun & tradition-filled New Year's Eve...
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| THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR A WONDERFUL PARTY!!!!!! |
CHEERS!!
Linking back to...
Homecoming, The Style Sisters
The Dedicated House, Savvy Southern Style
Dwellings, the Heart of your home
Linda's Coastal Charm
Our Home away from Home
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
A Stroll thru Life
Happy New year, Vel. I think the only one I kept was wearing polka dot and oh....turned lights on. Unusual new year for me. As you know I was in FL almost all month of Dec and when I got back, the clothes dryer wasn't working and so was hubby's vehicle. The repair guy could not repair the dryer (it needed parts) and just repaired it yesterday, so I had so much laundry over new year. And I could not go grocery shopping cause John used my suv to go to work. Happy New Year!...Christine
ReplyDeleteWow...lots of traditions here! And they all make a of of sense, actually! I have only heard the one here about cooking black eyed peas (which I have never done) on New Years Day.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you had a wonderful time welcoming in the New Year. Wishing you all the best in 2014...so glad I met you!
XO,
Jane
I loved reading about all these traditions! Some I've heard of, and some were new to me. I like the one about running around the block with your suitcase! :) I think we'd all like to travel more. Maybe I should try that one next year. :) Happy new year to you and your family and may you be showered with blessings in 2014!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading about your New Years traditions. How could you help but have a fantastic year?!
ReplyDeleteDear Vel,
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! First of all, I always enjoy your family photos (whether on the blog or instagram). And those traditions? Polka dots?? So cute :) I think #1 is fabulous, and we should all adopt it. Starting the year with a clean, fresh home.
Cheers to you all and 2014,
Loi
What fun traditions - loved the money coming in the door. Wishing you all the best in the new year!
ReplyDeleteLove these traditions! Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY NEW YEAR Vel!!! New Years day we eat lots of greens and black-eyed peas!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Cindy
I absolutely LOVED learning about all of your traditions. It is so interesting to learn how different cultures celebrate. Here's to a lovely 2014!
ReplyDeleteOh now that sounds like fun! What wonderful traditions to ring in the new year! Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteVel, this was SUCH a fun post to read!! I LOVE reading about your traditions and those of your Columbian friends!! It sounds like you had fun ringing in the new year, and I hope all your traditions bring prosperity, health and happiness to you and your family! (and height - that is such a great one - I will have to share that with my kids next year!) SO looking forward to following you this year!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Vel. Those are some fun and a couple of funny traditions. None the less, I love traditions of any kind. I hope they work for you. Can't wait to see what you do in 2014!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun traditions Vel, except cleaning the house! :) Wishing you and your family the very best in 2014!!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! I believe in New Year cleaning and Spring cleaning, too. Love hearing people's traditions. Colombians also like to tie money in a knot on New Years Eve. :)
ReplyDeleteVel, I looove these! If I had known about some of these, I would have definitely tried them! It's so interesting to read about your traditions. Here's to an amazing 2014!
ReplyDeleteThat was a fascinating post. Lucky me I wasn't invited by any Colombian friend because I don't own any yellow underwear!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Vel! What a list of things for New Year's Eve! Now I wish I had know about jumping at midnight when I was a kid - maybe I'd be a little taller today! ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping in to see me.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :)
Wow, how interesting. I can see how the clean house and well stocked kitchen could be a great way to start the New Year and hopefully keep you inspired to continue the trend. Happy New Year, Vel!!
ReplyDeletexo
Kim
Aren't traditions and beliefs interesting. I am going to go get some coins and put them around the doors and windows. Okay, I really don't understand the yellow underwear & I think it is hilarious to be running around the block with suitcases - I would love to see people doing that. Such Fun! I hope you have an amazing 2014!
ReplyDeletePatty at Home and Lifestyle Design
Wow, so fun to hear all of these great traditions, both your family's and your friends! I do like to have all the Christmas decor down and packed away and the house clean, but that's about all the raucous behavior we can handle......lol! We couldn't even keep our peepers open until midnight! It's a good thing we partied hardy when we were younger! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI love all your traditions ~ your friends' too! There are so many I would have used but hey, I can for the next one, right? :) 2013 was a horrid year for me so I'm planning on this year to be outstanding! I wish the same for you.
ReplyDeletexo
Pat
How fun! And to think that people think that we Southerners are crazy for eating black eyed peas and collard greens!!
ReplyDeleteHow fun are those traditions? Is it too late for the jumping at midnight thing will work for short me? :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing all your traditions! It's fun to hear what different people do to ring in the New Year!
ReplyDeleteOur only tradition is New Years day dinner. My mom always thought we should start off the new year with an amazing dinner, so she let us each pick whatever we wanted. I always wanted the biggest shrimp she could find served with garlic butter. My mom and my dad usually get king crab legs for themselves. I do that now with my boyfriend too. This year we did shrimp, steaks and twice baked potatoes.