Pinoy Customs and Traditions to prepare for the Holidays

Lucky Fruit Set Preparations

The new year 2023 is about to begin. Just like everyone else in the world, Filipinos observe various customs, cultural practices and beliefs passed down over generations as traditions. These traditions calls forth abundance and good fortune for the coming year.

As the year begins Filipinos will once again notice their older generations preparing different traditions to greet the new year. May it be by food preparation traditions, Feng Shui, Numerology or based on their own traditional beliefs.

There are a few Filipino beliefs and old customs that ad been passed down from one generation to another; most of them have been influenced by the Chinese and Spanish. One of the most popular traditions that we inherited is to prepare round fruits that are often the centerpiece of the New Year’s Eve dinner or Media Noche.

The Filipino Chinese culture believes that preparing round shaped fruits in an odd number total would bring in good luck for the upcoming year. Filipino Chinese elders would prepare either 5, 7, 13 or 15 kinds of fruits on a center table of their home facing or visible to the door to greet the new year with.

We have compiled a list of lucky fruits that Pinoys love to add to cart and purchase in preparation for the New Year.

Here are the best fruits to prepare during New Year’s Celebration in the Philippines.

Oranges

Orange Fruit in the Philippines is believed to bring good luck and happiness while its gold color symbolizes prosperity. The Chinese words for orange closely resemble the words for luck and wealth.

Grapes

Seedless Grapes, Red and/or Green Grapes represents abundance and brings good luck. In Spanish tradition, eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve ensures prosperity. 

Apples

Buying Apples in the Philippines is associated to entering into a peaceful and harmonious life. It is believed that giving Apples on New Years day is a sign of wishing others good health.

Pomelos (Suha)

If you want good luck and unity in the family, you should include Sweet Pomelos this fruit on your list. It symbolizes wholeness which is an important concept during the new year.

Melons

In most cultures, the seed of Melon Fruits of all variants symbolizes a good harvest, abundance, and fertility.

Pineapples

This fruit means wealth and good luck. Hokkien word “ong lai” or pineapple sounds the same as the phrase “prosperity comes your way”

Watermelon

This fruit itself represents prosperity while its seeds symbolize abundance and its red color and flavor are for luck.

Papaya

Papaya fruits represents happiness and good fortune. Just look for the round shape to get the most luck.

Lemon

Having Lemon fruits are  believed to remove bad luck also considered buying this fruit for the new year. It is also used to make lemon piglets, carved to resemble a pig with a snout, ears, eyes, and a mouth holding a coin then put four toothpicks as its leg.

Kiat-Kiat

This citrus fruit is considered to bring more money and promises luck, prosperity, and long life.

Pomegranates

Ripe Pomegranates is a symbol of fertility, longevity, and prosperity. Many call this fruit a lucky charm and it is believed that giving it on New Year’s Eve is a good omen.

We are happy to help our readers pick out the best fruits they can prepare for the New Year. If you want to avoid crowds from the grocery store during the holiday season. Don’t worry, The Good Produce is now offering fruit box sets that are great for personal use and gifts to your friends, family, and loved ones. You can choose from different sizes and price ranges and they will deliver them right to your doorstep. For your orders, you can visit https://TheGoodProduce.com