Entrepreneur sells Pampanga’s famous lanterns in Edmonton

Edmonton, Alberta

Parols light up famous Canadian Christmas market

By Charmaine Y. Rodriguez

Filipino-Canadian entrepreneur Romina Fundal decided to bring another famous Filipino Christmas tradition to Canada—the lantern or parol.

She is one of the vendors in Glow, the largest indoor Christmas festival in greater Edmonton.

This year, Glow Edmonton features more than 60 local artisans from December 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023 at the Edmonton Convention Centre.

Fundal is actually selling baking supplies and has decided to sell the famous Pampanga lanterns for the second year now.

Glow Edmonton draws thousands to its indoor Christmas event. (photo from glowyeg.ca)

 

The lanterns are made of Capiz shells and have colorful lights that can blink or stay stationary.

Fundal said among her bestsellers are the lanterns that have the colors of the Philippine flag.

Although her plan was to sell to a mostly Filipino market, Fundal said she was also hoping to lure other ethnicities to buy the products. 

She also decided to sell lanterns that have red and white lights—like the Canada flag.

“They were so amazed,” she said of her non-Filipino customers who really loved the lanterns in an Omni News report. 

The parol of star lantern is perhaps the paramount Filipino Christmas symbol – colorful, crafted with love and aglow with the spirit of the season, according to the website of the Christmas Capital of the Philippines, which is the City of San Fernando. 

The said city in Pampanga is known for its annual Lantern Competition or “Ligligan Parul” which was said to have started as far early as 1904. 

“But some say that the “Ligligan Parul” did not happen immediately after the transfer and in fact began in 1908. This forerunner of the present day Giant Lantern Festival was in a religious activity which we know today as “lubenas”, a nine-day novena before Christmas, which coincided with the “simbang gabi” from December 16 to 24,” the city’s website also read.

When the city had electricity in 1931, the first Giant Lantern Festival started and continues until today. 

The word parol derives from the Spanish farol, meaning lantern or light. Filipinos place much significance on the symbolism of light, the star regarded as a fount of light and a sign of hope in the predominantly Christian country in Asia. 

Aside from the market, Glow is popular for its light gardens where guests can enjoy an immersive experience. 

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top