Oh, the Christmas spirit in the Philippines, it’s something special! They got these pretty ornaments called parols all over the place, and let me tell ya, they’re not your regular ol’ decorations. These parols, they’re star-shaped, and folks hang ‘em up everywhere—on houses, schools, stores, you name it. Now, a parol isn’t just any ol’ Christmas light. Nope, it’s an iconic symbol of Christmas in the Philippines, a bit like how we think of a Christmas tree elsewhere. But over there, they start early, usually by September or October! Oh, how festive they are!
Now, these parols come in all kinds of sizes and colors. Some are huge, some small, some with bright lights, and some made of natural stuff like bamboo or paper. It’s not fancy like them glass baubles, no, no—it’s got that handmade, warm feel to it. They say each parol represents that big bright star that led the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus, and that makes it real special to the folks there. It lights up streets, windows, and just makes every corner feel like Christmas!
Filipinos, they sure don’t wait around like others to start celebrating. As soon as September comes, you’ll start seeing them parols up on houses and in shops. Why, by December, the whole country is just twinkling! And it’s not just the parols they got—no, they’ve got all kinds of Philippine Christmas ornaments. You’ll see Christmas trees, too, but with their own Filipino twist. Some folks add ornaments like wooden jeepneys, them little wooden Filipino cars, or decorations that say “Maligayang Pasko,” which means Merry Christmas in their language.
So, if you’re thinkin’ about adding some of that Filipino cheer to your own home, well, there are all sorts of ornaments you can get. For example, some are shaped like parols, which brings that star right into your tree. You might find ornaments with Filipino flags, or even a Christmas ornament shaped like a rice bowl! Some even got the shape of their national flower, the sampaguita. They sure do have a way of bringin’ their culture into Christmas!
Oh, and the parol ain’t just limited to paper or plastic either. These days, you can find them made with natural stuff like raffia, which gives them a nice earthy look. And let me tell you, these handmade parols sure got charm—they’re real unique and show a lot of Filipino spirit. Some folks even buy fancy glass ornaments from overseas, but the traditional parol, that’s the one everyone loves the most!
Now, while the Philippines celebrates Christmas on December 25th like most places, they’re just about the longest celebrators around! They got this thing called “ber months” where as long as it ends in “-ber” (September, October, November, December), it’s Christmas season! You’ll see all sorts of lights and decorations way before anyone else. And by Christmas Eve, folks gather for a big feast called Noche Buena, and they enjoy all kinds of delicious food. This time is full of family, friends, and joy!
If you want to bring some Filipino style to your own Christmas, you can buy some of these ornaments online. There’s stores sellin’ all sorts of Filipino-themed Christmas decor—ceramic parols, metal ornaments with “Maligayang Pasko” written on ‘em, and even jeepney ornaments to hang on your tree. These unique decorations can add a bit of Filipino warmth to any home during the holiday season. So why not try a little bit of that Filipino Christmas cheer yourself?
When you think of Christmas, next time, remember the Philippines and their parols, those beautiful star-shaped lights. They really know how to make Christmas bright and joyful for everyone! So, here’s to spreading a little Filipino cheer with some Philippine Christmas ornaments this season!
Tags：[Philippine Christmas ornaments, parol, Filipino Christmas decorations, Maligayang Pasko, Christmas tree, Philippine holiday traditions]