New Year’s: Pinoy Style

Watching a lighted ball (or if you live in Lancaster County any other sort of object. See: white rose, red rose, bologna, pickle, pretzel and goat) drop to celebrate the beginning of a New Year is passé compared to how New Year’s is celebrated in the country of my youth.

In the States, a frequent question on the days surrounding January 1 is, “Did you stay up to watch the ball drop?” In the Philippines, unless you’re deaf, you have no choice but to stay up and usher in the New Year.

Supposedly, the tradition is rooted in attempts to ward away evil spirits for the coming year – but I can’t say my friends ever referenced that purpose as they made their New Year’s preparations. Regardless of the true reason, Filipinos create bunkers of gunpowder and other small munitions in preparation for the big event. Everything I’ve seen in the US pales in comparison to the amount of firepower I’m talking about here. The Philippine arsenals pay no regard for aesthetics, it’s all about noise – after all, evil spirits won’t be scared off by pretty colors. The standard issue firecracker of choice during my days was the 5-star, gunpowder tightly rapped into a triangular-shape with a fuse protruding from one corner. Some of the more elaborate 5-star configurations included an entire belt of them strung together on the same fuse, light it and some 50+ 5-stars explode in rapid succession.

During the months of November and December, Filipinos stock their bunkers in preparation for December 31. Off and on, they’ll set a few off for the fun of it before New Year’s Eve, I guess to test things out. Once December 31 rolls around, you want to make sure you’re safe at home. Though sleeping is out of the question, there is a festive atmosphere to be enjoyed. The New Year definitely comes in with a bang.

Little did I know that my love for NASCAR may have originated in New Year's.