Lesson Transcript

Hi, everybody! Do you know how people in the Philippines celebrate New Year's Day? In this lesson, you'll learn some important phrases about the Filipino New Year and some valuable cultural tips.
In Filipino, New Year's day is called...
Araw ng Bagong Taon
[slowly] Araw ng Bagong Taon
On Araw ng Bagong Taon, Filipino people greet each other by saying Manigong Bagong Taon!
(slow) Manigong Bagong Taon!
This means "Happy New Year."
When you meet someone for the first time in the new year, be sure to greet them with this phrase.
Filipino people also celebrate the holiday with special events and customs, with having a party being the most common.
handaan
(slow) handaan
This means "party."
In recent years, going to street parties to welcome the New Year has become a popular tradition in the Philippines, especially in Manila. This is partly because firecrackers are gradually being prohibited for individual use. Due to the massive amount of firecrackers used, and because the people setting them off at home are not professionals, individual use of firecrackers brings danger to the neighborhood.
On this special day, Filipino people have Media Noche
(slow) Media Noche
This is "a feast shared by the family to welcome the new year."
Every type of food served is laced with an underlying meaning and is believed to bring luck, or swerte, and prosperity, or kasaganaan, for the new year.
Some of the food prepared during the party, or handaan, in Filipino, include a dozen circular fruits believed to bring prosperity. Biko, which is a kind of sweetened sticky rice, is made in order to make our luck stick around. Pansit, a type of noodle, is made for longevity. In Filipino, the word longevity is mahabang buhay.
Let's wrap up this lesson by recapping what you've learned. Listen to the expression and repeat after me.
"New Year's Day"
Araw ng Bagong Taon
* beep
Araw ng Bagong Taon
"Happy New Year!"
Manigong Bagong Taon!
* beep
Manigong Bagong Taon!
"party"
handaan
* beep
handaan
"a feast shared by the family to welcome the new year"
Media Noche
* beep
Media Noche
Well done! [pause] Here's a fun fact!
What do you think would be a good outfit to wear on New Year's Eve in the Philippines?
It is said that polka dots are the best design to wear on New Year's Eve! Filipinos believe that wearing something with circular patterns, like polka dots, will bring a prosperous year full of luck, especially when it comes to money.
You just learned how Filipino people celebrate "New Year's Day" and some important facts about the holiday.
And if you want to learn Filipino twice as fast, just click the link in the description and download tons of PDF lessons for FREE!
I'll see you next time. Paalam.

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