By Feebee Mariposa

By Reign Querido

The year of the horse, the year of the fire, the year of the color Cloud Dancer, and the year full of new opportunities and fresh resolutions: 2026. In the long-awaited year where everyone waits to reset, cleanse, and restart their lives with luck and love, the new year countdown ceases to turn zero. With a crackling of the fireworks and a blow of the torotot, it’s bound to be everybody’s year.

Amidst the overwhelming surge of finding ways to rewrite one’s old wrongs and get ready for new rights, New Year won’t be New Year without its abundant ways to lock this luck and prosper further prosperity. With several traditions and rituals from around the world all the way to your home, it’s up to you to make this year a new one.

Oldies but Goodies

Picture this — a symbolic Media Noche, wearing red or polka dots, and indulging in simple fireworks and sparklers — this is what a typical New Year’s Eve is like in most households. What encapsulates the imagery of a New Year is held by these very traditions most see as the norm. The luck, joy, and prosperity these practices bring are what makes up the start of a new journey, no matter what part of the world it originated from. 

“My family places mandarin oranges around the house as our New Year tradition, and I assume it is to claim good luck and welcome positive energy for the upcoming year,” Marga Lim, who, just like most families from Chinese descent, believes that fruits like mandarin oranges bring fortune due to its golden and round appearance. Even then, most Filipino families hold the same belief by having an abundance of fruits on the table, often having exactly 12. 

The number 12 is also a recurring number throughout the celebration, with traditions like eating 12 grapes under the table being widely popular. Wayne Fresnido reflects on how these traditions offer a “sense of gratefulness and fulfillment for the year and incites reflection for the year that passed and traditions such as meals and the 12 grapes.” To Raya Rellin, this tradition also becomes a meaningful way to manifest and envision the life she wants to build for the next year — 12 grapes for 12 months. “With a little bit of hope (and 12 grapes), it has taught me the importance of looking forward and making space for new opportunities to lead you to the place that is truly meant for you,” She exclaimed. 

Nevertheless, what is truly meant for you will lead to you, and one thing that could straighten this path is through resolutions. With 365 days ahead of us, writing down what we aim to achieve is something that could strengthen one’s hopes in the following months. “Nakakapagset [ako] ng path thru new years resolutions for the rest of the year kahit madalas ‘di sobrang natutupad,” Lei Pilar said. Even if things might not be how they were written in the paper, these resolutions become a guide to one’s path for the new year everyone would be stepping in to — a way to resolve broken and untied knots from the last year.

These traditions might be popular as they are, but they aren’t just mere rituals. With every fruit eaten and every firework fired, these practices serve as a symbol for a new year. It may be common, it may be seen in every window, but they are popular for a reason. They are popular because, even in times of hardships or bad luck, traditions like resolutions become a beacon of hope and rejoicing for many. With a new year, there are new opportunities to arise. 

New Year, New Traditions

Out with the old, in with the new. As time passes by and a new calendar gets hung up, new and uncommon traditions surface. In the quiet corners of a home where generational practices are shared, or a unique tradition done by a certain culture, it conjures the same thing popular traditions have: luck, prosperity, and joy this new year.

Most traditions often originate from a culture, spread in different continents of the world to be enjoyed by the masses. However, some practices are kept in the hushed voices of lineages. Julianna Navarro explains how her family, who came from a Chinese descent, celebrate New Year. “A common occupation for folks of Chinese descent during New Years Eve is showering either before the celebration or the day after since it symbolizes the withholding of luck.” This belief focuses on the supposed ‘washing away’ where it is seen to bring bad energy to the individual if they choose to shower too soon — a tradition very much common but uncommon to others. Beyond the cultural traditions, however, there are some that take on a more personal approach.

Some traditions do not come alive through a culture or from online. Sometimes, it stems from the rendition of an existing ritual, or made by a family member themselves. Some might wear the pantone of the year with their family, hang 12 grapes instead of eating them, or simply go to a place every year. These traditions rise to become unique and catered specially to each household, and it holds the same meaningful purpose as the others.

To Ynah Domingo, her family’s tradition does not revolve around luck but rather, a family bonding. “Almost every year my parents take me and my sister to watch the fireworks at either the boardwalk or Waterfront Road at Subic Bay because Subic holds a lot of memories for all of us, especially my dad.” Going to Subic for them may not be a way to get ready for the year ahead. Instead, it sparks back memories and feelings that they plan to keep and bring for the new year. Practices like this capture what it truly is to welcome the new year — to welcome it with family.

“Our first family event during New Years was somewhat a donation drive.” This became the new norm to Marco Judan’s family. Every New Year, his family would prepare various goodie bags and food donations and would be given to different barangays. In this simple tradition done every year, Marco and his family not only strengthened their bond, but also made those around them smile in this new year. “One good deed can go a long way and having done this tradition with my family yearly, I hope it extends to greater heights to the future of my family and other people as well.” 

This event, while uncommon to some, is also the norm for others. A HUMSS Student shared that this tradition has also been happening in their family by having a year-end program for the marginalized. In ways like this, where we unite by extending a lending arm to those around us, we turn the new and upcoming year into something inspiring by starting it with gratitude. In these moments, not only does one find purpose, but also master the art of giving back.

Old or new, uncommon or popular, these traditions are done as a step towards the restart button. What truly matters as the world counts to zero at New Year’s Eve is the people around us. As we eat 12 grapes, we are surrounded by the very people that cheer us to chew faster. As we see the round fruits and delicious food on the table, we think about the hands that cooked every dish. As we pack goodie bags to donate, we celebrate with the smiles of those who receive it. As 2025 turns into 2026, we go in with the old and the new, because this is our year.