Many families have an abundance of traditions, most of which revolve around holidays. . Some of these traditions may be generations old, while others are brand new and were inspired by mindless internet scrolling. However, it’s always fairly common, (or at least it is for my family), for many of these traditions to be rooted in or originate from superstitions.
Even the smallest of holidays, including birthdays, have their own traditions in my family. I’ve known from a very young age that in Filipino culture and in many other Asian cultures, it’s bad luck if you don’t eat noodles on your birthday. Because of this, every year, without fail, I can always count on my grandma (or “lola” as we call her in Filipino), to stop by my house with a container filled with freshly cooked noodles. The same sort of food tradition goes for the other side of my family; my Grandma will always make sure I have some cake on my birthday for good luck (it’s usually homemade and delicious). I always look forward to my delicious birthday gifts every year!
There are also multiple traditions/superstitions from Filipino culture that I get to experience for New Year’s. Right before the clock strikes midnight, that 10-second countdown isn’t a mindless chant for us as we watch a New York’s live stream. It’s more of a panic timer reminding me to ensure I don’t curse my year before it even gets the chance to start. First, I make sure I’m wearing some sort of polka dots or that I’ve eaten any sort of circular fruit, since round shapes are good luck. Then, I make sure my pockets are filled with cash and coins to ensure I have a wealthy year ahead. Following that, I have to make sure to be close to my loved ones, such as parents or siblings, to ensure I hug them immediately in the new year. This one has become more difficult to achieve as my brother and I have gotten older and now attend separate New Year’s parties, but we always make sure to hug our parents and wish them a Happy New Year as soon as we get home. Finally, there’s all the preparation beforehand, such as opening all the windows and doors (even in below-zero temperatures) and cleaning the house. These are implemented to welcome new and positive energy and most importantly to scare away the evil spirits. We also make sure to make as much noise as possible when the clock strikes midnight to make sure those evil spirits stay away for good.
At the end of the day, do I fully believe that the evil spirits are going to get me if I don’t scream “Happy New Year” as loud as possible? Not necessarily. But will I be taking any chances at all? Absolutely not. The moral of the story is that it doesn’t matter if these traditions rooted in superstition are real or not, because what actually makes them so fun and memorable is everyone believing they are real in those brief moments. After all, holidays are all about making lasting memories.