12/10/2024
In December's Sentro Rizal New York's "Did you know..."
The Giant Lantern Festival of San Fernando, Pampanga is one of the popular festivities in the Philippines and gave the city its tag as “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.”
Locally known as "Ligligan Parul," the festival is an annual lantern-making contest where intricate, colorful lanterns compete to be crowned the “brightest star” of the night with their stunning light displays and designs.
The festival used to be part of the religious activity “lubenas,” a nine-day novena before Christmas, which coincided with the “simbang gabi” (trans: night mass) from December 16 to 24.
The Giant Lantern Festival traces its origins to Bacolor town. After the provincial capital was transferred from Bacolor to San Fernando in August 1904, the lantern event relocated as well.