Do you do any of these during New Year’s Eve?

Do you jump up and down once midnight strikes?
There’s a belief that if you jump as high as you can and as many times as you can when the New Year hits, you’ll grow taller that year. I did that a LOT during puberty (even beyond puberty for the fun of it). Did it work? You be the judge. I’m 5 feet tall. Ho-hum.

Do you prepare food that is round in shape?
The belief is that these circular edibles will bring you much prosperity. Some prepare 12 different foods – prosperity for the next 12 months. We always had oranges, grapes and siopao for New Year’s Eve dinner. I don’t really believe in this, but I’ve got nothing to lose by doing it, right? So for this New Year’s Eve, we’ve got oranges and grapes again. I’m still thinking about the siopao.

Do you wear anything with polka dots?
Admit it! You did this at least once in your life. 😉 The belief is that polka dots bring in wealth for the new year! I’m not a big dot fan, but I make sure I wear circles anyway like round earrings or bangles.

Do you play with noisemakers, fireworks and firecrackers?
The belief is that the loud noises and bright displays keep the bad spirits away. Trumpets (torotot!) and rockets and watusi and whistling bombs and fountains and Judas’ belt and roman candles and spinners, oh my! The lights and sounds are most amazing when midnight nears. I’m quite happy just being a spectator though. I loved the sparkling lights! When I was about ten, I remember my Dad using luces to write my and my sisters’ names on our garden wall. I was so amazed! Our names stayed written on that wall till I was in my teens. We’ve moved houses though, but I wonder if our names are still there.

Do you sing “Auld lang Syne”?
It’s a song about remembering friendship. I don’t remember the last time I sang this. But I do remember that when we’d have family reunions, the oldest generation would sing this song with so much emotion. It was quite endearing.

Do you shout the countdown?
10…9…8… shouting along with others, especially when at a New Year’s Eve party is fun, fun, fun! And then hugs and kisses follow, as well as much jumping among kids (see the first question).

Do you spend New Year’s Eve with family?
I frankly cannot imagine spending New Year’s Eve away from my family. Since I got married though, my husband and I always spent New Year’s together, just the two of us most times. And then we visit family on New Year’s Day. I’ve tried going to huge parties and all on the Eve, but only after celebrating the exact coming of the new year with family. How about you?

Do you listen to the radio for the Top Songs of the Year?
Oh I miss this!!! I remember listening to the radio with my sisters, excitedly waiting for the Top Songs Countdown. There’s the internet now for that, but back then (wow, ang tagal na non ha) we avidly listened to our little black radio for those top songs. I loved those moments.

Do you sleep under a table in case a stray bullet rips through your roof?
I lived in a relatively rowdy neighborhood once. It was also the time when there were a lot of reports on trigger-happy fellows on New Year’s Eve. Freaky, right? Better safe than sorry, some family members and I placed mattresses under our dining room table, and there we slept till the morning of Jan. 1. Never mind if we had a strong sturdy roof above the dining room. Or a second floor.

Do you do any of these at all? 😀 Share, share! And… you do realize you only have a few hours to fulfill those 2007 resolutions right? Woohoo! 2008 is coming!

Hi! I'm Toni Tiu, and I've been blogging at at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.