A New Year to Remember: Faith, Family, and Traditions That Bind Us Together

Every New Year brings hope, excitement, and fresh beginnings, but this year’s celebration was truly unforgettable for our family. It became one of those moments we know we will look back on with grateful hearts. Being together during this season reminded us how blessed we are blessed to gather once again, blessed to celebrate life, and blessed to honor this meaningful day given to us by Jesus Christ.

Our New Year celebration is more than just a yearly event; it is a tradition deeply rooted in family bonding. Once a year, our relatives come together at our house to celebrate. No matter how busy life gets, no matter how far everyone goes, New Year is the time we reunite. Our home becomes filled with laughter, conversations, and love. Isn’t it truly happiness when everyone you love is under one roof?

This year, we also prepared a lucky bowl for prosperity, inspired by Chinese beliefs. It symbolizes abundance, good fortune, and blessings for the coming year. Anyone can imitate this tradition if they wish—hehe! As Chinese, we believe this brings luck not just for the year ahead, but for life itself. Still, while we honor traditions, we also hold firmly to our own beliefs. For us, faith and gratitude always come first.

We welcomed New Year’s Eve in our ancestral house, surrounded by my parents and immediate family. Celebrating in the place where generations before us lived made the night even more meaningful. As the hours passed, we reminisced about old memories, shared stories about our children, laughed at funny moments, and appreciated how far we’ve all come as a family. These simple conversations became priceless memories.

The most exciting part came after we officially welcomed the year 2026—a lucky and hopeful year for us. The food, the joy, and the togetherness made the moment extra special. Even the kids were full of happiness, laughter, and excitement. Seeing their smiles made everything even more worthwhile.

Early the next morning, we attended Mass, which is our traditional way of starting every New Year. It’s our way of thanking God for another year of life and asking for guidance and protection for the year ahead. Of course, kids will always be kids—my son started getting bored when the Mass was about to end and suddenly invited me to buy him a bubble toy (the one he was holding so proudly). This boy truly knows how to pabili! It cost 100 pesos, but honestly, it’s the thought that counts—and the memory it created was priceless.

After that, we prepared ourselves to go home because our relatives were already waiting for us. The celebration continued with dancing, singing, and endless laughter. Our house was once again filled with joy and togetherness, proving that traditions like these keep family bonds strong.

Above all, we thank God that this celebration happened once again. Not everyone is given the chance to celebrate another New Year with their complete family, and we never take that for granted.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope your New Year is filled with faith, love, prosperity, and beautiful moments with the people you cherish most. Happy New Year to all! 🎉✨

PHOTOS ARE MINE. EDITED ON CANVA