End of the Year Post

Another year ends, and a new year swiftly approaches...this past year has been an especially difficult one, and I am hopeful that 2012 has better things in store for me. I'm not typically a superstitious person, but right now I can use all the good luck that I can get, and New Year's has a lot of superstitions!

Some Filipino New Year's traditions include the following:

• Cleaning the house from top to bottom by NYE - if your home is clean and organized at the start of the year, your year will be the same.
• Keep some money in your wallet on NYE so that you'll always have something during the year.
• Open all doors, windows, drawers, and cabinets before midnight to welcome any and all good luck coming your way.
• Turn on all the lights to ensure a bright future.
• Set out a tray/bowl of 12 different round fruits, so that each month of the next year will be fruitful and prosperous.
• Wear polka dots, keep some coins in your pockets, and leave coins on top of tables for prosperity and wealth.
• Don't clean or spend any money on New Year's Day - you don't want to get rid of any  good fortune hanging around your home, or lose money the rest of the year!

For as long as I can remember, my dad would always go around the house and hang a small bunch of grapes over all the doorways on New Year's Eve. It had something to do with good luck. 

Today I've been haphazardly cleaning the house - washing dishes, taking out the trash, vacuuming, etc. and hopefully I can get to the store to get some groceries, including a dozen round fruits. Tonight I'll be wearing polka dots, putting coins in my pockets and on tables, and opening windows, drawers, and doors when midnight strikes!

Wishing you all a safe and happy New Year!