In the Philippines, many New Year's Eve celebrants eat or display 12 round fruits to symbolize prosperity for the coming year.
The twelve fruits commonly represent the twelve months of the year. Their round shape is associated with coins and wealth, so families may arrange them on a table as part of Media Noche, the midnight feast shared at the turn of the year. Examples often include oranges, grapes, apples, melons, and other round fruit.
Other Filipino New Year's customs include making noise, wearing polka dots, and serving sticky foods. These practices are connected with attracting prosperity, driving away bad luck, or encouraging family unity, although customs vary between households and regions.
This tradition is sometimes confused with Spain's twelve grapes, where one grape is eaten with each midnight chime. The Philippine custom is broader: the emphasis is on twelve round fruits, often displayed or eaten at the celebratory meal.