christmas-decorations

Deck the Halls

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The parol has become the most recognizable Christmas ornament for Filipinos not just in the Philippines, but in any country where there is a Filipino community.  Originally made of thin bamboo frames and covered with coloured cellophane or with rice paper, the parol has two tails that represent the rays of the star.  It reminds the Filipino Christians of the star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Wise Men on their way in search of the Baby Jesus.    

Nowadays, recycled materials are often used to make parols, like plastic cups, candy wrappers, soft drink straws, recycled paper and shells. The present day parols come in different shapes and sizes and they don’t have to be star-shaped, but can also be round, rectangular or even square.    

During the months of November and December, parols are seen everywhere. They are hung in windows or doorways of every Filipino home, in offices, schools, and shopping malls.  Many streets are adorned with these multi-coloured lanterns and mini parols hang on buses and cars. Today, parols have become more colourful because of the twinkling light bulbs that have been added to them. School children are taught how to make them and they usually have a lantern parade to showcase their work.   In keeping with the Christmas tradition, millions of families around the world will celebrate the holidays with the fragrance and beauty of a real Christmas tree.     

The tree, used as a symbol of life, is a tradition older than Christianity and not exclusive to any one religion. It’s a part of holiday customs that engages not only our senses of sight, touch, and smell, but also our sense of tradition, hope and goodwill.   

Long before there was a Christmas, Egyptians brought green palm branches into their homes on the shortest day of the year in December as a symbol of life’s triumph over death.  Romans decorated their homes with evergreens during Saturnalia, a winter festival in honor of Saturnus, their god of agriculture.  Druid priests decorated oak trees with golden apples for their winter solstice festivities.   

In the middle ages, the Paradise tree, an evergreen hung with red apples, was the symbol of the feast of Adam and Eve held on December 24th. 

 

 

The first recorded reference to the Christmas tree dates back to the 16th century. In Strasbourg, Germany (now part of France), families both rich and poor decorated fir trees with coloured paper, ribbon, tin shapes, fruits and sweets. The tradition spread through Europe and was taken across the Atlantic to the United States by German settlers.  The popularity of the Christmas tree then grew with official tree lighting ceremonies and gifts of trees being made between nations. By the 18th century we find the first recorded Christmas tree decorated with lit candles and today there is even a National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony held each year in the USA on the White House lawn.     

The traditional colours of Christmas tree decorations are green, white and red.  Blue and white are often used to represent winter.  Gold and silver are also popular, though these days almost anything goes; pink, burgundy, stripes, spots and tartan…trees are even colour co-ordinated with the rest of the home’s year-round furnishing!   

Until recently, it has been a challenge for families here in Macau to get real Christmas trees, having to rely on suppliers in Hong Kong to ship them over.  Several plant nurseries have noticed a growing population of expatriates who together with locals want to enjoy a traditional Christmas tree at home.  Having grasped the business opportunity, these nurseries will now deliver locally – the cost of a 6-foot Christmas tree ranges from MOP1300 to MOP1500. 

 
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