History of the Parol

In the Filipino language, a Christmas lantern is called a parol. There’s no greater symbol of the Filipino Christmas spirit than the parol. All through the Christmas season, star-shaped lanterns can be found hanging outside homes and along the streets of cities and small provincial towns, farms and fishing villages. For Filipinos, making a parol, decorating one and lighting a parol is an expression of shared faith and hope. –myParol.com

The Christmas season in the Philippines runs from September through December. First introduced to the Philippines by the Spanish, the parol (pronounced pah-roll) derives it’s name from the Spanish word for lantern, farol. The parol was used to light the way to the church for Misas de Aguinaldo or Gift Masses which begin on December 16, the start of the Christmas season and ends with the Misa de Gallo, Mass of the Rooster at midnight on Christmas Eve. After mass, families gather together for a big feast to celebrate the season.