New Year's Eve is just around the corner, and what better way to welcome the new year than by serving 12 different types of fruits and other lucky foods for prosperity.
Master Hanz Cua said that the 12 lucky fruits in welcoming the new year are apples, oranges, bananas, watermelons, papaya, melons, pears, kiat-kiat, grapes, pineapples, mangoes, and lemon or calamansi.
"The luckiest fruit of them all is the pineapple which in Chinese means wealth will come. But you should not display the pineapple. There should be 12 fruits on the table on New Year's Eve," said Cua, during an interview in Mandaluyong City on Dec. 26.
The 12 fruits symbolize the 12 months in one year.
In Chinese, apple means harmony; orange, success; banana, harmony; watermelon, symbolizes round money; papaya, good health; melon, round for money; pear, good health; kiat-kiat, more money; grapes, abundance; pineapple, success; mango, color of money while lemon eliminates bad luck.
Cua also said that families might serve noodles/spaghetti dishes that symbolize long life, fish (savings), Lechon (prosperity), pechay (continued good fortune), cake (harmony), and peanut and seeds (fertility).
"Wear red in welcoming the new year because it symbolizes luck and wealth," he said. "In welcoming 2024, you may also wear violet, the color of the coming year."
"Make some noise to rid the place of evil spirits or bad luck; declutter your house or apartment; make sure the rice, sugar, and salt containers are full," he said.
Cua also encouraged people to open all the lights in welcoming 2024, hang lucky charms, put money in their cash boxes, and make amends with enemies.
Other tips:
1) Turn on all the lights in the house. Bright lights attract prosperity and money luck.
2) Do general cleaning, declutter before 2024 enters.
3) Display a dragon. Place it in the southeast part of the house or in the living room to attract luck.
4) Change curtains. New year, new curtains. Use blue or violet for 2024.
5) Change the pillows and bed cover. If the bed is for singles, use pink. If the bed is for a married couple, use red.
6) Replace any light bulbs that are broken or not functioning properly.
7) Roll kiat-kiat fruits into the house.
8) Sprinkle coins into the house.
9) Put coins in your pockets.
10) Fix the main door.
11) Wear polka dots.
12) Wear new underwear.
13) Fix leaky faucet.
14) Put money in your wallet.
15) Pray.
