In the past three meetings, Living Learning Children have been busy making their own Filipino Christmas Parol. A paról is an ornamental, star-shaped Christmas lantern that you often see hung all over the Philippines during the Christmas season. It is traditionally made out of bamboo and paper, with a dominant star design. The design evokes the Star of Bethlehem that guided the three magi’s to the manger.

First, the children made the frame:

Then they placed the pegs in between the star frames.

Then they carefully cut and glued the cellophane.

Lastly, they made the “buntot” or the tail of the parol.

The steps seem easy but it was complicated, especially for little hands. But they finished it!

And they ended our meeting reciting part of a Filipino Poem by Jose Corazon de Jesus. Ang Magandang ParolIsang papel itong ginawa ng lolo may pula, may asul, may buntot sa dulosa tuwing darating ang masayang Pasko ang Parol na ito’y makikita ninyo. Sa aming bintana doon nakasabitkung hipan ng hangi’y tatagi-tagilid,at parang tao ring bago na ang bihisat sinasalubong ang Paskong malamig.

“The child is only educated who can use his hands as truly as his head, for to neglect one part of our being injures the whole, and the learned book-worm who is ignorant of the uses of a screwdriver, also lacks that readiness and resourcefulness, mental neatness and capability, and reverence for labour and its results, which a knowledge of practical matter gives.

 Again we know that the human hand is a wonderful and exquisite instrument to be used in a hundred movements exacting delicacy, direction and force; every such movement is a cause of joy as it leads to the pleasure of execution and the triumph of success. We begin to understand this and make some efforts to train the young in the deft handling of tools and the practice of handicrafts.” – Charlotte Mason

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