it's a tradition inherited from my mother: food must decorate the dining table when the new year rings in. round fruits and delicacies are a must, to ensure that the coming year will bring an abundance not only of food but the round shape represents money. and there has to be at least twelve kinds of anything round - representing the twelve months of the year. also, we have to make noise when midnight strikes, to ward off the bad spirits from the last year and to welcome the good new spirits. i once asked: won't the new good spirits get scared? and then i learned not to ask again.
