It's about nine hours before we sing Auld Lang Syne to bid goodbye to 2010 and welcome the New Year. This is one instance when people all over the world are united in a choral manifestation of thanksgiving for a year spent and another year given, and hopefulness for next year's continued bliss or for changed lives.
How we do the New Year welcoming rites in this little Southeast Asian Philippine republic has already become eclectic; what was considered native to us has been mixed with Oriental and Western influences that one can no longer determine which tradition and practices are really ours.
But, all of these practices, however they were introduced, are now our own ways to show hope and gratitude: a bountiful meal, wearing polka dots and good luck charms, making tremendous noise in various ways, listing down resolutions, cleaning up the house, and stocking up the cupboards and refrigerators.
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| Thank you, Lord, for all of these, from your bounty |
In our household, for example, rather than the hazardous firecrackers, my hubby bought locally-made trumpets for the kids ($0.25/piece) to be used in the midnight noise barrage. (Definitely, no firecrackers for us!)
We have cooked and prepared food like crazy since 9:00 p.m. of December 30, 2011. What we prepared, we made sure to be either round or long. At this time, we're done with round choco-moist cake, cookies, spaghetti, fried fresh lumpia, and macaroons. All of these, we will join with the rest of the viands that our relatives will be bringing for the highlight Media Noche.
//rmis//
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