Philippine Parol made of fiberglass exquisitely hanging on the walls of the Main Hall of the

Museum of Ethnology at the Hofburg Palace complex in Vienna.

Charming and captivating with its colors and light, the parol (lantern) is perhaps the most celebrated symbol of the Filipino Christmas.

This year, five (5) Philippine Parols made of fiberglass and Japanese paper (papel de hapon) from San Fernando, Pampanga proudly dominate the view at the Main Hall of the Museum of Ethnology (Museum für Völkerkunde) at the Hofburg Palace Complex in Vienna, Austria.

Public viewing of the Parols commenced on 16 December 2011 on the occasion of the Weihnachtsfeier (Christmas celebration) of the Museum of Ethnology.  The viewing will run until 06 January 2012 after the celebration of the Heilige Drei Könige (The Three Kings or the Feast of the Epiphany of Jesus).

The Weihnachtsfeier was attended by the diplomatic community in Vienna, the city government officials of Vienna, and art patrons. Minister and Consul General Charlie P. Manangan and Cultural Attaché Maria Antonia Bosa represented the Embassy of the Philippines in Vienna.

The Ethnology Museum thanked the Philippine Embassy in Vienna for its active participation in the events of the museum, and for providing the museum’s main hall with the Parols and their light, zest and spirit of Philippine Christmas. 

Guest of the Museum, Dr. Jani Kuhnt-Saptodewo, Head of the Southeast Asia Division of the Ethnology Museum,

Minister and Consul General Charlie P. Manangan, Dr. Barbara Plankensteiner, Director of the Museum of Ethnology,

and Cultural Attache Maria Antonia Bosa.

Guests include some members of the diplomatic community, city government officials, and art patrons.