Around the world, New Year’s Eve is a time of renewal and hope, marked by unique traditions in different cultures. For Morden resident Sean Arcilla, who grew up in the Philippines, the celebration revolves around one key theme: all things round.
Celebrating the New Year with Filipino Traditions
Sean brought with him rich traditions from the Philippines, especially for New Year’s Eve. He explained the importance of round objects in Filipino celebrations: “Everything round—whatever you eat, wear, or see—must be round before New Year’s. It symbolizes money, prosperity, and wealth.”
The tradition, which has roots in Chinese culture, includes displaying 12 round fruits to represent good fortune for each month of the year. “We set up round fruits like watermelons, honeydew, and avocados on the table,” Sean said. “It’s all about ensuring a prosperous year ahead.”
Filipino New Year’s Eve celebrations also include vibrant festivities. “In the Philippines, it’s a big culture shock compared to here,” Sean said. “There are fireworks from street to street, loud music, and banging noises. It’s all about driving away evil spirits from the past year and welcoming the new year with a clean slate.”
Looking Ahead to 2025
As 2025 approaches, Sean shared his personal resolutions: “I feel like I need to focus more on my health and my studies. I’m almost finished with school, so I really want to make my grades even higher than this year’s.”
Sean expressed gratitude for the community in the Pembina Valley, describing his experience as “a blessing” and adding, “I’m so thankful to be here and to share a bit of my culture with everyone.”
The traditions and stories shared by Sean highlight the diversity and richness of cultures in the Pembina Valley, adding a global touch to local celebrations.