YORKTON – People gathered at the Parkland Mall Yorkton Culture Days location Oct. 7 to learn how to make Filipino Christmas Lanterns.
"In the Phillipines we call it Parol," saiod Mitchelle Quinto, instructor for the event.
"Here in Canada you guys have Christmas trees," added Quinto, "back in the Phillipines we have this — Parol."
Quinto told Yorkton This Week the tradition originated "during the Spanish period" noting that religion is "big" in the Phillipines, "especially Catholic."
"We have a [Christmas] mass that we do around 4:00 am – 5:00 am in the morning so it's still dark," said Quinto, "so Filipinos ... would hang a lantern in front of their yard just like a street light for the passersbies and so that's how Parol originated."
Quinto noted the use of original material which included bamboo sticks and said that that it isn't a product that is readily available for purchase in the city so it had to be imported.
"We want to be authentic on the original Parol that we make," said Quinto.
As for having the opportunity to present a small part of his culture to the locals in attendance, Quinto said "it's very a nice feeling."
"You get to see our Canadian friends who are interested in our culture," said Quinto, who immigrated to Canada in 2004 and has lived in Yorkton for 16 years, "it's very heart-warming for me."
"This is very close to my heart ... I've been making these since I was in high school."
