What do Filipinos traditionally prepare in sets of 12 for New Year's Eve?

Filipinos traditionally prepare 12 round fruits for New Year's Eve.

The fruits represent the 12 months of the coming year, while their round shape is associated with coins and prosperity. Families may arrange fruits such as oranges, apples, grapes, melons or other locally available produce on the New Year's table.

The practice is part of a broader set of Filipino New Year's customs focused on attracting luck and abundance. Some families also emphasize round clothing patterns, coins, noise-making and jumping at midnight, though customs differ between households.

The number is the key detail: it is generally 12 fruits, not an obligatory list of 12 specific species. The exact selection can therefore vary, while the symbolism of roundness and the year’s 12 months remains central.