As Christmas approaches…
We see various decorations like ornaments, Christmas lights, garlands, and, of course, the Christmas tree.
And naturally, a Christmas tree wouldn’t be complete without a star on top.
But why is the star the symbol of Christmas?
The oldest story about the Christmas star can be found in the Bible, particularly in the story of Jesus’ birth.
According to the Bible, a star appeared in the sky on the night Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem.
This star guided the three wise men, Balthazar, Gaspar, and Melchior, to reach Jesus and give Him their gifts.
Later, this star became known as the “Star of Bethlehem.”
However, astronomers have not yet confirmed if what the three wise men saw was indeed a star.
Some theories suggest it might have been a comet, a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, or even a supernova, an exploding star.
Whether it’s true or not, this story made the star a symbol of hope and light in the midst of darkness, reminding everyone of the coming of the Savior.
Because of this, the tradition of using the star as a symbol of Christmas began.
The star symbol quickly spread, especially in countries with strong Catholic Church influence.
In our country, the star is also the symbol of Christmas through the “parol.”
It’s usually made from Japanese paper, plastic, or even recyclable materials.
During the Spanish era, the parol was not just a decoration.
It served as a light source during Catholic Church processions for the nine-day novena leading up to the nine days of “Simbang Gabi.”
Its name comes from the Spanish word “farol,” which means “lantern” in English.
During the American period, Filipinos became more creative, and this was when the star-shaped parol emerged.
**VALERIE ANN DISMAYA
