In Philippine New Year's Eve celebrations, round shapes are associated with coins and prosperity.
Many Filipino families use twelve round fruits on the New Year's table, with the circular form symbolizing coins or financial fortune. The twelve fruits are commonly connected with the twelve months of the coming year, although the exact fruit selection varies from household to household and region to region.
Other traditions may include wearing polka dots, keeping coins in pockets, and making loud noise at midnight. Noise-making has traditionally been associated with driving away bad luck or evil spirits. Fireworks and firecrackers are also common, though authorities frequently regulate them because of injury and fire risks.
The custom is sometimes described as an ancient Filipino practice, but its exact historical origin is not firmly documented and may reflect several cultural influences. The stable point is the symbolism: circles evoke coins, while the twelve-fruit arrangement connects the celebration with the months ahead.