A HAPPY NEW YEAR
- Published on Wednesday, 28 December 2011 23:23
- Category: Barangay Affairs
www.explorephilippines.net (Tourist Information)
Nerissa Bayan
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome. With most countries using the Gregorian calendar as their main calendar, New Year's Day is the closest thing to being the world's only truly global public holiday, often celebrated with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the New Year starts. January 1 represents the fresh start of a new year after a period of remembrance of the passing year, including on radio, television and in newspapers, which starts in early December in countries around the world. Publications have year-end articles that review the changes during the previous year. There are also articles on planned or expected changes in the coming year.
In the Philippines, New Year's Eve celebration is quite different compared to other countries. Filipinos literally start the year with a “bang”. In spite of the yearly ban on firecrackers because of a number of accidents caused by firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices that have resulted in the loss of lives, limbs and properties, still many Filipinos see lighting of firecrackers as the traditional means to greet and celebrate the New Year’s Eve. This tradition is brought about by the belief that the noise of the firecrackers are believed to drive the evil spirits away and make the New Year bountiful and blessed. However, following the City Mayor’s pronouncement on the ban of the sale of firecrackers in the city, it is hoped that this New Year would be a safe celebration for all of us.
Other Filipino beliefs for New Year include putting coins/money in one’s pocket so that the next year will be prosperous, opening all the windows, doors and the lights open so that all the graces will come inside the home; wearing of polka dots clothing which symbolizes money; and a lot other beliefs, traditional or superstitious in celebration of the New Year. But whatever belief or practice each individual would do to celebrate New Year, it must be coupled with efforts and persistence exerted by the individual for the coming year so as to really achieve what these traditions are for. Little do we realize that these practices are more of symbolisms of what we want with our lives. For example, we make loud sounds to drive the bad luck or “malas” as we call it, away from our homes, yet if we just sit around the whole year doing nothing, no matter how heavy noise we produce, it would seem that the “malas” would remain. One person may light the strongest fire crackers, the loudest and the noisiest with the hope of driving the evil spirits away, but without any effort to improve one’s personal connection with God or effort to better his spirituality, then certainly the evil spirits would stay. One person, for example, may crack his piggy bank and withdraw all he has in the bank and place it all inside his pocket, but without exerting effort to be erased from the unemployment list, then all the money inside those pockets wouldn’t be doubling up anytime soon. But whatever practice we were raised to witness and later on practice ourselves, we have to keep in mind that the New Year always is a chance, a moment of hope and an opportunity to start anew. Have a safe, happy, prosperous and bountiful 2012 ahead.
