I live in a city with a large Pilipino population. Every holiday season, I look forward to walking around the neighborhoods, and seeing the different kinds of parol (Christmas lanterns) that people hang in front of their homes. The parol have gotten really elaborate over the years. Most are made of capiz, a kind of shell, dyed in different colors. Some have the Holy Family painted in the centers, some even have Santa Claus. The one hanging in my window is shaped like a poinsettia and flashes off and on. Parol are like jeepneys--cheerful and borderline gaudy--and I love them.
Lately though, I have noticed that the homes that used to put up their parol right after Thanksgiving have yet to hang them up--dark, lonely windows loom over my evening walk. I wonder if it’s because they haven’t had the chance to put them up yet, or worse, maybe the economic crisis has people not feeling the Christmas spirit?
An article came out a couple of days ago by the Associated Press, saying that parents are buying “vintage” toys for their children like Tinker Toys, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Lincoln Logs in lieu of fancier (expensive) toys like the Nintendo Wii. These toys make them remember happier, simpler times, and in the midst of a crushing recession, it is these good feelings that parents want to pass on to their kids. This article made me think of the empty windows: is there a way to streamline Christmas decorations, too?
Meet myparol.com. If you want a fun Christmas gift, are looking to streamline your Christmas decorations, or maybe just want an art project, this place is for you. Here you can buy a parol-making kit, which includes bamboo sticks, Japanese paper, string, and instructions to make your very own old-school parol (just like the ones before parol painted with Frosty the Snowman hit the scene), all for the wallet-friendly price of $6.99. You can also order a light fixture to put inside your masterpiece, so you can light up the neighborhood when you’re finished.
That’s not all this place has to offer. It has resources for teachers, a free parol coloring book, a history of the parol (parol comes from the Spanish farol, which means lantern, but its true origins are in Italy), and pictures of parol made from different materials (my favorite is the parol made out of potato chip wrappers). You can also buy the modern capiz parol as well.
The moral of the story is, no matter what holiday you’re celebrating this December, it doesn’t have to be expensive. Just don’t be afraid to get a little bit funky. You just might find a new use for those cellophane polvoron wrappers.
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