Parol

ParolsCitation |last=Frank |first=Sarah |last2= |first2= |publication-date=2005 |title=Filipinos In America |publication-place= |publisher=Lerner Publications |pages=53 |isbn=0822548739 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=9Yr-p5T54qEC&pg=PA53&dq=history+of+paper+parol+or+christmas+lanterns&sig=37QC6cFoiQlk-i226dQH2OM-t88#PPA53,M1 |accessdate=2007-12-20.] are ornamental star-like Christmas lanterns from the Philippines. They are traditionally made out of bamboo and paper and comes in various sizes, shapes and designs, however its star-shape facade remains dominant.Citation |last=J. |first=John |last2= |first2= |publication-date=2005 |title=A Christmas Compendium |publication-place= |publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group |pages=67 |isbn=0826487491 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=yBP8a2jJ9A4C&pg=PA67&dq=Philippine+christmas+lanterns&lr=&sig=0qLsi5U4sLvsbQlKEaIMwW0gnW4 |accessdate=2007-12-20.] Citation |last=Magocsi |first=Paul R. |last2= |first2= |publication-date=1999 |title=Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples |publication-place= |publisher=University of Toronto Press |pages=510 |isbn=0802029388 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=dbUuX0mnvQMC&pg=PA510&dq=Philippine+christmas+lanterns&lr=&sig=DweoRGRLyjPsUI-evzKSYyEr0f4#PPA510,M1 |accessdate=2007-12-20.] cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Christmas decors, Filipino-style |url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/72224/Christmas-decors-Filipino-style |format= |work= |publisher=GMA news.TV |location= |id= |pages= |page= |date=2007-12-10 |accessdate=2007-12-20 |language=Tagalog |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= ]

Its shape is said to be inspired by the star on the Nativity of Jesus that guided the Magi to the manger. It also symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and the Filipinos' hope and goodwill during the Christmas season.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Gearing up for the Parol Pageant |url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/announcements/announcements/view_article.php?article_id=104519 |work= |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=2007-12-03 |accessdate=2007-12-20 ]

Etymology

The word parol came from the Spanish word "farol" which means "lantern" or "ilawan" in Tagalog.

Adaptation and history

The "Parol", technically called Philippine Christmas lantern, was adapted from the Chinese lantern and the Mexican piñata to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. [Citation |last=Engel |first=Frances H. |last2= |first2= |publication-date=1980 |title=Pearls and Coconuts |publication-place= |publisher=F.H. Engel |pages=72 |isbn= |url=http://books.google.com/books?lr=&id=2-5KAAAAMAAJ&dq=Philippine+christmas+lanterns&q=Chinese+lanterns&pgis=1 |accessdate=2007-12-20.] Patterns of the "parol" evolved from the five-pointed star-shaped paper lantern that was crafted by an artisan named Francisco Estanislao in 1928. His creation was made of bamboo strips pasted with "papel de japon" (Japanese paper), illuminated by a candle or "kalburo" (carbide). This kind of lighting was adapted by barrio folks to light their paths during an annual ritual dawn Mass called "Misa de Gallo", due to electricity being unavailable at the time. [cite web |last=Gamboa Alejandro |first=Reynaldo et. Al. |title=Parol (page 2) |url=http://www.filipinoheritage.com/customs_traditions/christmas/parol2.htm |publisher=Tatak Pilipino |work=Filipino heritage |date= |accessdate=2007-12-20]

Construction and variations

Traditionally, parols are made from a star-shaped framework made of bamboo sticks which are then covered by colored pieces of either Japanese paper or crêpe paper. Nowadays, the materials range from various non-traditional materials such as beads, feathers, glass, hemp, leaves, plastic, seeds, shells, soft drink straws, wood and even metal.cite web |last= |first= |title=Giant Lantern Festival |url=http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Cynthia/festivals/giant_lanterns.htm |publisher=SEAsite:Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Illinois University |work= |date= |accessdate=2007-12-20] They usually comes in various sizes—from small, tinsel and foil lanterns to gigantic one—shapes and artistic designs where some lanterns can be electrically lit at night. Other designs include that of Santa Claus's face, angels, reindeer, huge flowers, happy faces, and Christmas trees.cite web |last=Romares-Sevilla |first=Joy |title=Symbols of Christmas |url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2007/12/18/feat/symbols.of.christmas.html |publisher=Sun.Star Publishing, Inc. |work=SunStar Davao |date=December 18, 2007 |accessdate=2007-12-20] More complex shapes that are seen are the rose, the bromeliad, the snowflake and the sea urchin.

Recently, innovations that have originated from Pampanga include production of capiz or seashell made lanterns and electronic lights that can be coordinated to produce a dancing effect. [cite web |last= |first= |title=Paskong Filipino |url=http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Tagalog_Default_files/Philippine_Culture/paskong_pilipino.htm |publisher=SEAsite:Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Illinois University |work= |date= |accessdate=2007-12-20]

The star-like shape of the parol which has been its original design remains common in the Philippines and considered distinct for Filipinos. The crafts are usually made in the barrios and the poblacions and is rarely done in urban areas. On the contrary, Parañaque, a city in Metro Manila, has the largest production of Parols. [Citation |last=Dacanay |first=Julian E. |last2= |first2= |publication-date=1988 |title=Ethnic Houses and Philippine Artistic Expression |publication-place= |publisher=One-Man Show Studio |pages=156 |isbn= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Qq8jAAAAMAAJ&q=Philippine+christmas+lanterns&dq=Philippine+christmas+lanterns&lr=&pgis=1 |accessdate=2007-12-20.]

Uses and inspirations

In the Philippines

In the Philippines, the parol has become an iconic symbol of a Filipino Christmas and is as important to Filipinos as the Christmas Tree is to other cultures. Its appearance on houses and streets which usually starts in September along with other Christmas symbols signals the coming of the season. The parol is associated with the Simbang Gabi, a series of dawn masses that lasts for nine days. Parols remain until in January, usually removed by the sixth day of the month, to honor the "Three Kings" and their visit to the child Jesus. [Citation |last=Driskill |first=J. Lawrence |last2= |first2= |publication-date=1997 |title=Christmas Stories from Around the World: Honoring Jesus in Many Lands |publication-place= |publisher=Hope Publishing House |pages=53 |isbn=0932727875 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=hbaGZuHtiKkC&pg=PA53&dq=Philippine+christmas+lanterns&lr=&sig=LmTi_0NW-f6A8zjk_ioG3m-xGpA#PPA53,M1 |accessdate=2007-12-20.]
Filipinos hold competitions to see who can make the best parol. The annual Lantern festival in Pampanga attracts various craftsmen around the country. The competition revolves around the illumination and performances of giant parols that can reach up to convert|40|ft|m in breadth. These giant lanterns are also made to "dance" at the music of a brass band. [cite news |first= Tonette |last=Orejas |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Giant lanterns go ‘dancing’ |url=http://services.inquirer.net/mobile/07/12/17/html_output/xmlhtml/20071217-107236-xml.html |work= |publisher=Inquirer Mobile |date=2007-12-17 |accessdate=2007-12-20]

In other countries

Although the use of the parol for Christmas celebrations are mostly in the Philippines, other countries have also adapted its use. In Austria, the lanterns are a big attraction in the annual Wiener Christkindlmarkt (Vienna Christmas Market). A ceremonial lighting of 60 parols in a "Philippine tree" was done in the Wiener Rathausplatz (Vienna City Hall square). The project was a collaboration of the Philippine Embassy in Vienna and the city's government. The Philippine embassy first introduced the parol to Vienna on 2006. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=‘Parol’ a big hit in Austria |url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=103245 |work= |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=2007-11-26 |accessdate=2007-12-20 ] In San Francisco, California, Filipino Americans celebrated their 4th Annual Parol Festival on December 2006. [cite news |first=Tonette |last=Orejas |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Rains won’t dampen Fil-Ams’ lantern festival |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=37740 |work= |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=2006-12-12 |accessdate=2007-12-20 ] Filipinos in Canada hang parols in their Christmas party halls to reminisce their traditional usage of the craft during the season.

References