In the Philippines, the twelve fruits traditionally served at New Year's Eve celebrations are usually round.
The custom is part of Media Noche, the Filipino midnight feast welcoming the new year. Families commonly display twelve round fruits, with each fruit representing one month of the coming year. Their shape resembles coins, so the fruits are associated with prosperity and financial good fortune.
Possible choices vary by household and season. Apples, oranges, grapes, melons, peaches, and other round fruits may appear on the table. The tradition is not a single mandated menu, and the number of fruits can also vary in practice, but twelve is the familiar symbolic count.
Media Noche is distinct from Noche Buena, the Christmas Eve meal. Filipino New Year's celebrations may also include loud noises, fireworks, and foods believed to encourage abundance. The round-fruit custom is sometimes confused with Spain's twelve grapes, but Filipino families may use a wider selection of fruits and emphasize their coin-like shape.