Many people in the Philippines traditionally prepare round fruits on New Year’s Eve to symbolize prosperity.
A typical Media Noche, or midnight feast, may display twelve round fruits. Their shape resembles coins, so they are associated with wealth and abundance for the coming year. Common examples include grapes, oranges, apples, melons, and other locally available fruit.
The number twelve is often linked to the twelve months of the year, although families may vary the number and exact fruit selection. The tradition is part of a larger set of Filipino New Year practices involving round shapes, loud sounds, polka dots, and other symbols of good fortune.
Round fruits are sometimes confused with Spain’s twelve-grape custom. The Philippines has historical ties to Spain, but the Filipino practice is broader: it focuses on a table display of round fruits and prosperity symbolism, rather than requiring one grape for each clock chime.