Christmas, Filipino style

The parol has become a symbol of peace

(CNN) -- While snow is more than unlikely in the tropical Southeast Asian nation of the Philippines, everywhere you go you hear about sleigh rides and Rudolph.

It's Christmas, and Filipinos celebrate with gusto.

350 years of Spanish colonial rule have left behind the only predominantly Roman Catholic nation in Asia and Christmas has become the most celebrated holiday in the Philippines.

The symbol of Christmas in the Philippines is the 'parol' -- a representation of the star of Bethlehem that believers say guided the three wise men to baby Jesus.

It's long been a tradition for Filipinos to hang a parol outside their home to signal the coming of Christ.

The most common parols are made from strips of bamboo that form the star's skeleton. It is meticulously covered with colored paper and decorated and a flashy tail added to drape off one or more points.

The quality and style of the parol differs from house to house, region to region and can become quite an impressive artform.

The parol has become an economic indicator of sorts. During a good year, a home could have dozens of parols, during a bad year, perhaps one or two.

'The parol brings happiness in the world,' says 57-year-old Maria La Paz.

La Paz designs and creates more elaborate, and more expensive, parols for sale. Her designs often incorporate blinking lights and more expensive materials.

She says any time a customer asks for a discount, she gives it this Christmas -- to keep sales moving and to help her customers.

'We need to be happy,' she says, 'even if we don't have any money.'

Why does she think that parols important?

Well, she says, it sends the same message today as it did 2,000 years ago -- a message of peace.

-- CNN's Maria Ressa contributed to this report