In the Philippines, 12 round fruits displayed at New Year's Eve are meant to symbolize prosperity.
Many Filipino families prepare 12 round fruits for Media Noche, the midnight meal that welcomes January 1. Their round shape is associated with coins and wealth, while the number 12 is commonly connected with the twelve months of the coming year. The display expresses a wish for financial abundance throughout the year.
The fruit selection varies by household and availability. Apples, oranges, grapes, melons and other rounded fruits may be used, so there is no single mandatory list. Some families also include coins or polka-dot clothing as related symbols of prosperity.
This custom is often compared with Spain's twelve grapes, but the Filipino practice is broader: the fruits are displayed and eaten as part of Media Noche, and they need not all be grapes. Traditions differ across Filipino families and regions.