photo by Ramon FVelasquez (via Creative Commons)
Travelers who tour the Philippines during the Christmas season are sure to see the paról or lantern. Popping up on street corner light posts and in front of homes as early as September, these multi-colored lanterns with a five-point star represent the star of Bethlehem that The Three Wise Men followed to reach baby Jesus. Check out the origin story of this uniquely Filipino Christmas craft below to find out more about this quaint holiday tradition.
photo by Unbuttered Parsnip (via Creative Commons)
The First Paról
The Filipino Christmas star was first introduced to the locals by the Spanish colonists and the word comes from the Spanish word “farol” which translates into lantern. The original Filipino Christmas star was created by Francisco Estanislao, a local artisan, in 1928 and was made from humble materials including bamboo strips and Japanese paper. Once the star frame was constructed with the bamboo rods and the paper laid over the five point star, a candle was added to light up the parol so that this holiday craft could light the way for visitors in the same way that The Three Wise Men were led to baby Jesus.
Today, many people add intricate details to these stars and they have evolved to become commercially available as the capiz star which is made with shells of windowpane oysters. Tassels and streamers are also added to modern lantern designs to signify the shining rays of the stars. Many locals also compete for cash prizes in schools and communities prompting everyone to create their best paróls.After Christmas itself, the stars usually remain up in households and street corners until January as they are generally removed after the Epiphany to honor the voyage of The Three Kings.
Insider tip: if you’d like to see the most paróls, make sure to book your Filipino adventure anytime between December 16 through January 6 as this is considered the peak time. This is because the late bloomers will have put their Christmas decorations out by the 16th and won’t take them down until after the first of the year.
photo by Ramon FVelasquez (via Creative Commons)
Variations on the Traditional Paróls
In addition to the traditional five-pointed star, over the years, Filipinos have also used the capiz star with eight points as their Christmas parols as well as created their own interpretations. But for the true die-hards, there’s even an intense competition in San Fernando which takes this Christmas tradition to a whole new level. For instance, while the capiz star and the traditional paróls are for home use, the lanterns on display during the Giant Lantern Festival, which takes place on the Saturday before Christmas Eve, are loud and proud. Made in the Pampanga province these lanterns average 20 feet in diameter and hold over 10,000 light bulbs to illuminate the gently-placed and intricate design. Locals who compete say it takes up to a year to come up with a solid concept and execute it with a great team in order to be ready for the competition season.
Historically, this lantern festival was a part of a religious event called “lubenas” where each neighborhood would create a lantern made out of bamboo and other locally sourced materials for a Christmas Eve mass. And during this mass, each lantern from each neighborhood would be on display and everyone could enjoy the beautiful and unique Christmas stars. But the best part about this tradition was that constructing these stars as a neighborhood truly embodied the holiday spirit of brotherhood and teamwork --- something that the Giant Lantern Festival still carries on today.
Want to check out some legit paról?
Reach out to your in-the-know Filipino travel guide to book a one-of-a-kind adventure to the Philippines in the winter months. There will be no shortage of outstanding paróls sprinkled all throughout the Philippines no matter which province you decide to visit. Happy holidays!