In the Philippines, New Year's Day, which is on the first day of January, is celebrated with great pomp and show. This day is marked as the beginning of a fresh start, compelling individuals to leave behind the past and focus on the upcoming year with positive hopes. Filipinos welcome the new year with their family and friends, enjoying lavish feasts, lively music, and heartwarming laughter. It's a public holiday in the Philippines, allowing everyone to rest from work and participate in the celebrations.
The celebration of the New Year in the Philippines is also steeped in various traditions and superstitions. On New Year's Eve, Filipino families gather at home for the ‘Media Noche’ or midnight meal—a lavish feast that symbolizes their shared hopes for prosperity in the coming year. Several traditions such as making noise to ward off evil spirits, jumping high at the stroke of midnight to ensure growth in height and prosperity, serving 12 round fruits to signify abundance in the 12 months of the new year, are some common practices.
Moreover, fireworks and firecrackers play a significant role in the Philippines' New Year's Day celebrations. Streets and skies are lit up with various fireworks, signifying joy and hopes of bright prospects in the upcoming year. Despite the government's efforts to minimize firecracker injuries, localized fireworks displays remain popular among many Filipino communities. Family members, friends, and neighbors also exchange gifts and well wishes, adding to the overall festive spirit of the holiday.