Filipinos have a lot of beliefs and traditions to celebrate and welcome the new year. There are round fruits to represent money, there is wearing polka dots for good luck, and jumping at midnight to make you grow taller (which didn’t work for us, LOL). Those were just a few of them that I knew of growing up.
This prosperity bowl is something new for me at least. And this was how my sister welcomed the year 2025 at their home in my hometown.
What is a Prosperity Bowl
A prosperity bowl is a bowl of items that are meant to represent abundance and good fortune. Its traditional origin is the Chinese money bar-shaped basket.
What are the Items in the Bowl
There are more items that can be added like bay leaves but this was how my sister did hers.
- Rice: For prosperity
- Coins and bills: For fortune, success, and opportunity
- Gold chocolate coins: For wealth, prosperity and success
- Raw eggs: Represent 12 months of the year and new beginnings
- Orange: For good fortune and prosperity
- Cotton: For luck
- Red ribbon: For protection
- Ang pao (Red envelope): For prosperity, good luck and blessings
How to Make It
- Use a deep round bowl to symbolize a deep pocket.
- Fill 2/3 of the bowl with rice.
- Arrange the eggs around the edge of the bowl.
- Place the chocolate gold coins in between the eggs right in front.
- Roll each bill and tie with the red ribbon then place in the bowl.
- Place the orange in the middle on top of a cotton.
- Add the red envelope.
There you have it. I haven’t tried making this prosperity bowl, but thanks to my sister for the idea. I believe this is becoming popular in my home country now.
How about you? Do you have beliefs and traditions to welcome and celebrate the new year?
Happy New Year! Cheers to a fruitful 2025!
I’ve never heard of prosperity bowl, I loooove the idea, it is brilliant. The best way to start the new year.
I love the idea of a prosperity bowl is so cool to me. It’s a little bit like people in different regions of the States eating certain foods for the new year.
That’s a cool idea. It’s very similar to what we did in the south when I was a kid. We always at black eyed peas with greens and cornbread to promote prosperity, wealth, and good health.
The idea of welcoming the new year with a prosperity bowl is fantastic for sure. Great selection of items to add as well!
A prosperity bowl is a nice idea. What other things could you put in there, I wonder?
I do wonder, too. 🙂
I have never seen this tradition before, but it sounds very interesting! Hope you have the new year you are aiming for.
What a lovely tradition!! I had never heard of the prosperity bowl before, but the symbol is such a thoughtful wya to start the new year with positive energy!
That is a pretty neat idea! I’ve never heard of anything like that before, but seems like fun!