THEIR lights are dazzling. It captures us and hypnotizes us as we gaze upon it, giving us hope – the Philippine Parol.

It has become a tradition among Filipinos to hang up their star-shaped parols. While it is often considered a common Christmas decor within Filipino households, ornamental lanterns have also expanded to the streets, roads, and buildings.  

Oftentimes, the shape of Christmas parols is made into a star, representing the Star of Bethlehem that guided the three wise men toward baby Jesus. 

Aside from its default star shape, the five-pointed star also comes with two tassels that can be brightly lit up during nighttime. While the five-pointed star with two tassels became the traditional design of the classic Filipino parols, it can also come in all shapes and sizes—with some reaching up to eight points.  

When talking about the history of Christmas Parol, it is rooted back to the Spanish colonization of the Philippines in the 16th century. However, in 1908 the art of parol-making began with Francisco Estanislao, who is believed to have crafted the first parol using the five-point star design.

Coming from the Spanish word “farol,” comes with the creation of Parol which means “lantern” or “light.” 

The town’s residents reportedly utilized lanterns to light up the streets on their trip to the Simbang Gabi as electricity had not yet been installed in Bacolor (the former capital of Pampanga). 

It was also said by some that the lanterns were brought along by the patron saints during the procession as people walked from barrio to barrio. 

During the earlier times, the very first parols look similar to early Chinese paper lanterns that are made out of bamboo sticks and rice papers. In modern times, parols are now crafted with windowpane oysters (also known as capiz shells).

These shells are commonly found in sandy shores, bays, coves, and lagoons and with these capiz shells, it provides a translucent light that glows through electric lights. 

The parol is honored with various celebrations across the nation. In order to showcase a bit of their homeland for the world to enjoy. Meanwhile, Filipinos overseas also host their own festivals. 

Last year, in Los Angeles about 500,000 people rose up their parols as the beacon to their roots back in the Philippines. 

Whether you stick with your traditional five-pointed parol or explore with other shapes, parols will always be part of Filipino tradition that will always remind of Filipino Christmas. 

To some it might be an ornament, but for many Filipinos, like its symbol for the birth of Christ – it is a light of hope, for the world that we are born in