The Paról in Our WindowEvery December, my family hangs a paról star in our window in the Philippines. A paról is a colorful Filipino lantern shaped like a star used during Christmas. We usually buy ones made with plastic or metal. The vibrant colors in the star mean a lot to my family. My parents told me that in the Philippines, paróls light up homes and streets during the Christmas season because many Filipinos love when Christmas is near. My parents, who moved from the Philippines to the United States in 2011 and brought this tradition with them so our family could still feel connected to home. Every year, we return to the Philippines to celebrate Christmas and New Year with my relatives, and we usually hang a paról outside our house to symbolize our culture. While we decorate, my parents share stories about celebrating Christmas with their siblings and parents. To me, the paról represents hope, family, and culture. It reminds me that even though my family lives far from where my parents grew up, we still carry our traditions with us. To others, it may just look like a decoration, but to my family the paról carries memories and our migration story.

– Violet

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant