Christmas lanterns, or parols, are more than just festive decorations — they’re symbols of tradition, artistry, and Filipino holiday spirit. But did you know there are official specifications your parol should meet?
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has outlined a set of tests and quality measures that certified or regulated parols must pass. For instance:
- It should succeed a burning-rate test, ensuring it doesn’t catch fire too quickly.
- It must endure impact and drop tests to check durability.
- The adhesive strength needs to be robust — glue should hold up.
- And there’s a pull test, to see if parts will come apart under tension.
If your parol fails any of these, it might not be safe or up to DTI’s standards — and could even pose fire or safety risks. So before hanging yours this holiday season, it might be worth checking if it carries the necessary certification or markings.