In the Philippines' New Year's Eve tradition, people commonly prepare 12 grapes for prosperity in the coming year.
The twelve grapes represent the twelve months of the year and are part of a broader Filipino practice of displaying or eating round foods at New Year. Round shapes are associated with coins and prosperity, so families may also arrange round fruits such as oranges, apples, and melons on the table. The precise customs vary among households and regions.
Filipino New Year celebrations also often include twelve round fruits, polka-dot clothing, loud noises, and jumping at midnight. These practices are popularly connected with attracting good fortune, driving away bad luck, or encouraging growth in the new year.
The grape custom resembles Spain's twelve-grape tradition, reflecting historical Spanish influence in the Philippines, but Filipino celebrations have developed their own combination of foods and symbols. Not every family follows every practice, so the tradition is best described as common rather than universal.