In my country, there is a ton of silly cultural and superstitious beliefs that needs to be kept and observed during the New Year. From wearing polka dots, to ensuring 12 types of fruits on the dining table, to jumping when midnight strikes and to making sure all lights are on inside the house, all these and other insane beliefs are observed by Filipinos when New Year happens. Failure to do so would result to some wicked curse, a good amount of misfortune and a handful of bad lucks the whole year.
Two of the silly beliefs my family did last New Year’s Eve was the tossing of heaps of coins inside the house (for prosperous fortune) plus the serving of classic “kakanin”. From the amalgamation of two Tagalog root words kain meaning “to eat” and kanin meaning “cooked rice”, kakanin are varieties of sticky and glutinous Filipino delicacies whose main ingredient is rice.
It is an inane Filipino belief that eating something glutinous and sticky during the New Year like kakanin will bring good vibes in terms of relationships within the family. Reason for eating something sticky will result to a greater bond, affirmative ties and optimistic connection among members of the family which for my family is very important and essential.
My family settled for having the “biko” as this new year’s kakanin. Biko is a classic kakanin made of glutinous rice cooked for hours with fresh coconut milk and brown sugar usually sprinkled on top with brown coconut curds! And since I am pretentious, nitpicky and ostentatious, I pushed on levelling up this new year’s family Biko or Kakanin.
I had our classic biko topped with dark brown coconut curds, drizzled with rich coconut-cinnamon caramel syrup served with slices of ripe and succulent peaches! Yum!
our swanky kakanin! yum!
Aside from hoping for a continuous upbeat sticky bond with my family, with this swanky kakanin, my hopes are high for a chic, swish and affluent New Year ahead!
Nengkoy 
i like your thinking! It is great that your culture is so family oriented. May your New Year dreams quickly manifest and bring you much prosperity, fulfillment and joy!
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Thank you so much! A great New Year to you too! 😊
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I liked your explanation of the meaning of your New Year cultural traditions. I wonder their origins? Under what conditions were they conceived? Culture is fascinating in its variety and practice.
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No idea where these cultural traditions came from. It’s super fun though…
Happy New Year to you! 😉
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I put money outside, and left $1 coins for the neighbors to do the same, in order to bring wealth into the home in tne new year.
A friend at the other end of the block said her family took their suitcases out, then back in, to ensure travel… but I’m not convinced she’ll get her wish in the time of covid.
I hope your tradition works out for you!!
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A wealthy New Year to all of us! 😉
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Interesting . In India too every region has its own customs.
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These customs & traditions adds color to our being social beings. As long as there is no harm done, will definitely keep observing them! 😉
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After an excellent lunch enjoyed with pleasure, the soul is well prepared for each day to come. So 2021, received so well, can only be a good year !!! 🙂
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Wow… such a poignant thought! Happy New Year to you. 😉
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Very interesting – this was not something I had previously realised, it sounds more fun than generic fireworks. Happy New Year to you!
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It does! Hahaha! Happy New Year Tom! 😜
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Very interesting traditions! And delicious looking sticky rice. Thank you!
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Super yum indeed! 😋
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😋😋😋
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💗💗💗
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Ah, biko is truly one of the best!
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