10 New Year Traditions Reddit Users Are Ditching This Year
Goodbye grapes, fireworks, and midnight jumps.
Published on Dec 31, 2025
From midnight rituals to lucky charms, Filipino households have long believed that how you welcome the New Year sets the tone for what’s to come. These days, though, tradition is meeting reality, and our beliefs are evolving right along with us.
We stumbled upon a fun online thread where Reddit users dish out the traditions they’re skipping this year. Here’s the rundown.
1 Serving 12 round fruits to invite wealth
“Sabi ng nanay ko hindi na raw nya kukumpletuhin yung 12 fruits dahil grabe sobra ang tinaas ng presyo ng fruits especially yung grapes,” says one Reddit user.
One commenter shares that their family has officially ditched the 12-fruit tradition mainly because, more often than not, the fruit goes bad before anyone gets around to eating it. With fewer people at home these days, it just ends up being a waste.
One netizen says he’s skipping the traditional 12 fruits and sticking to just five—one for each element. Fire? Apples, mandarins, or cherries. Metal? Honeydew or white pears. Earth? Kiwi, longgan, or chico. Water? Blueberries, grapes, or mangosteen. And Wood? Watermelon, avocado, or guava. Simple, symbolic, and way easier to manage.
2 Following Feng Shui traditions
Some folks aren’t buying the hype. One commenter says: “Unang una, hindi naman tayo Chinese at hindi naman tayo Taoist. At higit sa lahat, magastos sumunod sa Feng Shui, ang yumayaman lang dyan ay yung mga nagbebenta ng mga pampaswerte. LOL”
Another jumps in with a more spiritual take: “No to that prosperity bowl. I believe, in my heart and in my soul, na lahat ng papasok na blessing ay galing sa Diyos. Ang swerte ay galing sa Diyos.”
And then there’s the modern realist: “All the traditions of buying this and that. What’s important is my laman ang bank account mo and you’re not drowning in debt. Learning to invest and be wise with money.”
3 Eating grapes under the table on New Year’s Eve
This traditional Spanish custom is believed to help you find love in the coming year, but apparently, luck isn’t one-size-fits-all. “Nag-work sa friend kooo! Tapos ako buong 2024 minalas,” one Reddit user cries.
“My single friends, single until now is kumakain ng grapes sa ilalim ng table. Soooo hindi talaga effective I guess,” another chimes in.
4. Jumping at midnight to grow taller
A forty-something netizen accepts the cold, hard truth: “40s na ako, wala na akong pag-asa mag-2nd phase ng puberty at tumangkad ulit.”
Also, the ritual might pose a risk to the knees. “Ingat sa pagtalon baka sumakit tuhod. Lol.”
5 Making New Year’s Resolutions
An internet user says he won’t bother making a list of New Year Resolutions this year. “Every day is an opportunity to be a better person,” he says simply.
6 Lighting fireworks
A commenter says it’s been ages since they bought proper fireworks. This year, they’ll settle for just sparklers and torotot for the kids. “Delikado rin kasi, hindi lang sa sarili, pwede rin makasunog ng bahay. Lalo yung kwitis na minsan bumabagsak na may baga pa. Ine-enjoy na lang namin manood ng fireworks,” he says.
"Not seeing a single hard-earned peso go up in smoke,” adds another person on the thread.
7 Making loud noises
Some people are not only skipping the firecrackers, but the loud-noise tradition altogether. “We have cats—gotta protect their ears,” says one fur parent.
8 Staying up for the midnight countdown
Some of us are feeling our age—like this commenter, who’s sitting out the party and the countdown altogether. “Mas importante na sa akin ang tulog,” he admits. He has a point. Why stay up for fireworks when you can ring in the New Year well-rested… and way less cranky?
Another user says he’s all in for the midnight countdown… but the feast? That’s happening early, around 6 pm. “Hihintayin pa rin namin ang countdown tapos sleep na. Haha. Mahirap na sa may acid reflux matulog close sa last meal.”
9 Serving kakanin (sticky rice)
Some say serving kakanin or biko will make family bonds stick even tighter. “Fake news. Gulo gulo ng pamilya namin. Palala nang palala every year,” one commenter says, proving that not even sticky rice can save some family drama.
10 Throwing coins for good luck
Sometimes good luck comes with collateral damage. “The last time we did it, nagasgas yung living room seat made of wood. RIP sa Cleopatra chair,” says the Reddit user.
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