In the Philippines' New Year's Eve tradition, the customary 12 fruits should be round.
Many Filipino families prepare twelve round fruits for the New Year, with the fruits representing prosperity for the twelve months ahead. Their circular shape is associated with coins and wealth. Common choices include oranges, apples, grapes, melons, and other locally available fruit, so the exact selection is not fixed.
The table may also include foods associated with abundance and long life. Families often make noise at midnight, share a meal, and gather with relatives. The round-fruit custom is therefore part of a broader set of Filipino New Year practices rather than a single mandatory menu.
The number twelve can be confused with Spain's midnight grapes, but the Filipino tradition is broader: it calls for twelve fruits, and they are selected for their round form. Not every Filipino household follows the practice identically, and regional and family variations are common.