I’ve been wanting to create and submit my entry for this challenge but I have to abide for the schedule and I was also waiting for the photos that were taken during the last day of the year 2017 and on the night prior to the new year.

That way I would be able to share how we actually leave the current year and welcome the new year with all the wishes for a brighter and meaningful new year ahead.

My appreciation

Before anything else I would like to commend @anomadsoul for having this great idea that would give us information how people from different parts of the world welcome or celebrate the new year.

More entries more information

The more entries the more information we get that would educate ourselves with the culture and tradition of different counties which I find very important for everyone to know.

Our beliefs

Filipinos have different beliefs and rituals being carried upon on Christmas day up to the new year. The holidays have always been a long celebration that normally starts weeks before Christmas and ends on the first Sunday of the new year as a celebration of the Feast of the biblical Three Kings.

Family oriented

A lot of people around the world already know that Filipinos have a strong sense of family, I mean we Filipinos value our family with high regard, we are customarily a family oriented individuals.

Aside from that we also love celebration, several occasions all throughout the year are being celebrated with the whole family and relatives.

Media Noche for New Year's Eve

While we have “Noche Buena” during Christmas we also share “Media Noche” during the new year’s eve. I think most of the people around the world have this, the festive being celebrated in midnight.

Families and relatives shares delightful and delicious food; we have this belief that by so doing we are welcoming pronounced luck for the new year.

Among the foods that are usually present during the Media Noche are Lechons, Pancit, Biko or Puto, etc.

Spaghetti prepared by my wife for our Media Noche.

We also believe that chicken and fish meals are not good during the festive as both animals symbolize scarcity. So you can hardly see menus made of fish and chicken in every table set by Filipinos during the New year’s eve.

Holy Day of Obligations

Filipinos also believe especially in the Christian world that attending the midnight mass is our avenue to pray for the year that was and the year to come. January 1 is also considered as the feast of Virgin Mary the mother of God so Catholics who are dominant in the Philippines considered the day as Holy day of obligations of Catholics not only in the Philippines but around the world.

So you will observe people clustered at the church during the new year’s eve.

Circle is a symbol of prosperity

My little boy playing with those round golden chocolates during the new year's eve.

As Filipinos and Chinese believed alike, you will see circles everywhere. Both believe that a round shape symbolizes prosperity. In connection with this Filipinos used to display 13 round fruits at the dinner table during the new year’s eve.

Many people consider those I mentioned above as superstitious belief of Filipinos being carried upon in the new year’s eve for the hope of receiving more luck for the coming year and accepting good disposition.

Another custom practiced by Filipinos during this time of the year is the making of loud sound to greet the new year. Filipinos believe that its one way of sending away bad spirits.

Lighting fireworks or just simply watching firecracker displays is believed to stop misfortune. Since I haven’t had my own firecrackers I just watched the sky full of those wonderful colors as other people are lighting fireworks in their respective houses nearby.

I’s quite hard to capture those but I managed to have few pictures right on the new year's eve, please see below.

---

---

---

Filipinos also believe that turning on all the appliances and lights at home as well as vehicles is a way of welcoming a brighter year and allow good energy to come in.

Part of the tradition, we let our car and motorcycle's engine on for few minutes starting 12 midnight.

Lastly, another superstition associated with the new year’s eve is the act of jumping as high as one could. As being taught by elders, jumping does not only make one grow taller but to receive good luck as well.

Now so much about those traditions Filipinos usually follow on the new year’s eve, I would like to share things my family did on the last day of the year till midnight.

We had a late lunch date with the whole family and shared some delicious food that I would really want to share to everyone here. I did enjoy taking pictures with the thoughts that I could use them in my entry here. Haha my little kids and the whole family know #steemit already, every time they see me taking pictures they used to say, you will use that for #steemit right? LOL.

We really had a quality time with the whole family, our way of celebrating the last day of the year and making ourselves ready for the coming new year.

And in just few hours we need to go home to prepare for our food for the Media Noche. We expect few visitors so we need to really prepare.

Here's a picture of the cake prepared by my grade 12 daughter @ninski. I was surprised with her baking talent/skill she learned from school.

And I thanked God, we were able to hear the evening mass commemorating the last day of 2017 and welcoming the year 2018.

I hope you learn something from this simple blog as I expect to learn also from all your articles.

---

ALL PHOTOS ARE MINE.

---

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!