The story of the Filipino Christmas parol and how to make one

Filipinos around the world hold one Christmas symbol above the rest: the parol, a traditional ornamental lantern that adorns streets, homes, malls and buildings in the Philippines.

SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco’s Filipino Cultural Heritage District.” class=”wpds-c-hcZlgz wpds-c-hcZlgz-bkfjoi-font-georgia wpds-c-hcZlgz-jDmrXh-width-mdCenter wpds-c-hcZlgz-ifhRNLw-css”>The lantern is typically star-shaped and symbolizes “the triumph of light over darkness, joy and hope,” says Raquel Redondiez, director of SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco’s Filipino Cultural Heritage District.

Illustrations of different types of Filipino parols.

The most common parol represents the Star of Bethlehem and is traditionally made with bamboo sticks and paper.

Many parols incorporate bright hues and Christmas colors.

Some elaborate lanterns have long tails, tassles or paper scallops.

Materials include beads, glass, shells,

feathers and upcycled plastic. Some

communities typically use dried leaves, seeds, vines and twigs.

Some artisans create intricate and pricey parols with capiz shells, the translucent oyster shells commonly found in waters around the Philippines.

Sizes range from ornaments small enough to hang on Christmas trees to 20-footers showcased in festivals.

Parols were once lit with candles and gas lamps. Now some have electric lights that dance to Christmas tunes.

The most common parol represents the Star of Bethlehem and is traditionally made with bamboo sticks and paper.

Many parols incorporate bright hues and Christmas colors.

Some elaborate lanterns have long tails, tassles or paper scallops.

Materials include beads, glass, shells,

feathers and upcycled plastic. Some

communities typically use dried leaves, seeds, vines and twigs.

Some artisans create intricate and pricey parols with capiz shells, the translucent oyster shells commonly found in waters around the Philippines.

Sizes range from ornaments small enough to hang on Christmas trees to 20-footers showcased in festivals.

Parols were once lit with candles and gas lamps. Now some have electric lights that dance to Christmas tunes.

The most common parol represents the Star of Bethlehem and is traditionally made with bamboo sticks and paper.

Many parols incorporate bright hues and Christmas colors.

Some elaborate lanterns have long tails, tassles or paper scallops.

Materials include beads, glass, shells, feathers and upcycled plastic. Some communities typically use dried leaves, seeds, vines and twigs.

Some artisans create intricate and pricey parols with capiz shells, the translucent oyster shells commonly found in waters around the Philippines.

Sizes range from ornaments small enough to hang on Christmas trees to 20-footers showcased in festivals.

Parols were once lit with candles and gas lamps. Now some have electric lights that dance to Christmas tunes.

FilAm Arts.” class=”wpds-c-hcZlgz wpds-c-hcZlgz-bkfjoi-font-georgia wpds-c-hcZlgz-jDmrXh-width-mdCenter wpds-c-hcZlgz-ifhRNLw-css”>The lanterns’ roots predate the Spanish colonization of the Philippines in the 16th century, says Giselle Tongi-Walters, executive director for the Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture, better known as FilAm Arts.

In ancient times, the lanterns were a symbol of hospitality. Travelers who saw one hanging in a home’s open window at night knew they were welcome to seek refuge there, according to “The Parol Story,” a presentation by FilAm Arts board member and artist Eliseo Art Silva.

Under the rule and religious influence of Spain, star-shaped lanterns on bamboo poles lit the way to early morning mass. “There’s so many layers to the symbolism of parol, and it means something different for everyone,” said Redondiez.

San Francisco and Los Angeles, where they also pass on the art of parol-making through workshops.” class=”wpds-c-hcZlgz wpds-c-hcZlgz-bkfjoi-font-georgia wpds-c-hcZlgz-jDmrXh-width-mdCenter wpds-c-hcZlgz-ifhRNLw-css”>The tradition is so important in Filipino American communities that they have created parol festivals in the United States, including in San Francisco and Los Angeles, where they also pass on the art of parol-making through workshops.

Here’s how you can make your own parol

Illustrated steps on how to make your own parol.

Five 2-inch

bamboo sticks

10 15-inch

bamboo sticks or

any pliable wood

Three 16×23-inch sheets of colored tissue paper

Start by creating one star

Arrange four sticks into

two V shapes and tie the ends together with rubber bands.

Cross the Vs and tie the top point.

Lay a stick across the

remaining points and

tie the ends with

rubber bands.

Use hot glue to join the points where the wood intersects.

Make a second star and join the two together

Star 2 is

directly

above it

Use hot glue to attach a short stick on each points of the pentagon on the first star.

Dab hot glue on top of the short sticks and attach the second star. Let the glue dry.

Tie the points together

with rubber bands.

Apply all-purpose glue

to the outer surface of the pentagon.

Cut your paper into

two 6×6-inch strips

and 20 4×6-inch strips.

Glue 4×6-inch strips to the

triangle panels until this

side is covered. Flip the

star and do the other side.

Stick the 6×6-inch strip

on the pentagon. After

the glue dries, trim the

excess paper.

Finish off by gluing 4×6-inch

strips on side panels.

The tail is optional, but

here’s an easy way to add one

Two 16×23-inch sheets

of colored tissue paper

Cut around 40 1×16-inch strips of paper.

Make two bundles and tie one end with a rubber band. Fluff them to give the tail volume.

Use the string to attach the tails to

the two bottom corner of your star.

What you need for the star

Five 2-inch

bamboo sticks

10 15-inch sticks

of bamboo or

any pliable wood

Three 16×23-inch

sheets of colored

tissue paper

Start by creating one star

Lay a stick across the

remaining points and

tie the ends with

rubber bands.

Arrange four sticks into two V shapes and tie the ends together with rubber bands.

Cross the Vs and tie the top point.

Use hot glue to join the points where the wood intersects.

Make a second star and join the two together

Star 2 is directly

above it

Use hot glue to attach a short stick on each points of the pentagon on the first star.

Dab hot glue on top of the short sticks and attach the second star. Let the glue dry.

Tie the points together

with rubber bands.

Cut your paper into two

6×6-inch strips and 20

4×6-inch strips.

Stick the 6×6-inch strip

on the pentagon. After

the glue dries, trim the

excess paper.

Apply all-purpose glue

to the outer surface of the pentagon.

Glue 4×6-inch strips to the

triangle panels until this side

is covered. Flip the star and do

the other side.

Finish off by gluing

4×6-inch strips on

side panels.

A tail is optional, but here’s an easy way to add one

Two 16×23-inch

sheets of colored

tissue paper

Make two bundles and tie one end with a rubber band. Fluff them to give the tail volume.

Use the string to attach

the tails to the two bottom

corners of your star.

Cut around 40 1×16-inch strips of paper.

his own parol style using interlocking wooden pieces inspired by traditional wooden boats and featuring the sunburst rattan weave.” class=”wpds-c-hcZlgz wpds-c-hcZlgz-bkfjoi-font-georgia wpds-c-hcZlgz-jDmrXh-width-mdCenter wpds-c-hcZlgz-ifhRNLw-css”>Your parol can be as simple or wild as you’d like, whatever matches your style and skills. Ciriaco Sayoc, an artist based in San Francisco, has crafted his own parol style using interlocking wooden pieces inspired by traditional wooden boats and featuring the sunburst rattan weave.