A
parol (pronounced: paról with a rolling "r") is a
Filipino,
Christmas,
star-shaped
lantern with vividly colored
streamers hung inside and out. The word
parol comes from the
Spanish word for lantern,
farol. The roots of the parol are in the
Mexican piñata. The piñata originated in
Italy, came to
Spain in the 1300s, spread to
Mexico, and finally came to the
Philippines when Spaniards brought
Christianity to the islands.
The parol was originally used to light the way to church to attend Misa de Gallo, or "Mass of the Rooster", held on December 16th, the official start of the Christmas season. The parol represents the star of Bethlehem and showcases ingenuity and hope for peace.
Parols are handmade from loca] materials like: capiz (nacre), bamboo sticks, crepe paper, colored rice paper, parts of mussel shells and coconut trees, and candles. They usually feature a tassel, sometimes one at each point. Recently, electric candles light the lanterns, replacing wax candles originally used in earlier centuries.
All through the Christmas season, the lantern can be found hanging outside doors and windows of homes and along the streets of cities and small provincial towns. One of the most spectacular sights can be seen in the city of San Fernando where 20-foot tall paro]s with kaleidescopic blinking lights are paraded through the streets on truckbeds.