Water Lantern, the History Behind

For thousands of years the Chinese people have used paper lotus lanterns to carry their wishes away over the water where they will hopefully find fulfillment. 

Water Lanterns are also know as Tealight Lanterns. Water Lanterns are great for all celebrations.

Use water lanterns on pools or ponds for a romantic and elegant touch. Float lanterns on water to send well wishes or in memorandum. You can also use the Water Lanterns on land. They make beautiful wedding decorations. You can use Water Lanterns on porches or decks, in the yard or garden. Place the water lanterns along a walk way for a luminary effect. Water lanterns are originated from a legend that the drowned persons-ghosts  who wanted to come back to the human world to meet their offerings can find their ways throng the light of water lanterns their offering released. Now people release them to memorize their predecessors and hope to have good luck all the year in health, prosperity, love and etc. After some ceremonies, the local folks will light up the lanterns and put them on water to let them float. With the float of lantern, people may pray what they wish. 

These lanterns can be released on Halloween, Easter day, New year, or other festivals.

 
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Sky Lantern (Flying Lantern / Wish Lantern)

What is a Sky Lantern?
Sky Lanterns, also known as Wish Lanterns and Konming Lanterns, can be thought of as a miniature hot-air balloons that can launched in your back yard for a special event or occassion.

The lantern itself is made of lightweight bio degradable paper on a bamboo frame with a small wax fuel cell suspended in the middle. Just light the wax fuel cell and the lantern fills with hot air, causing it to rise gently into the night sky.

Sky lanterns produce a stunning glow when launched into the night sky, and can travel a great distance before gently making its descent after the fuel cell has burned out. Our colored sky lanterns can be particularly great for use during daylight hours, when their bright color will be visible as they soar off into the distance.

Day or night - Sky lanterns from Sky Lanterns are perfect for weddings, birthday parties, celebrations, memorials, funerals, and remembrance services.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE:  Sky lanterns should never be flown when there is any noticeable wind present. Wait for a calm day. Wind may blow the sides of the sky lantern in, forcing the hot air out and causing the sky lantern to fall back to earth, possibly causing a fire. 

History and Facts about Chinese Flying Lanterns (Kongming Lantern)

 

from:  Birthstones

 

Sky lanterns, or also known as flying lanterns or Kongming lanterns are airborne paper lanterns that are constructed from oiled rice paper on a bamboo frame. During the Han Dynasty, the Chinese Empire was divided into 3 warring kingdoms (206 BC – 220 AD) and Zhu Geliang (also known as Kongming), a military hero and strategist, devised special flying lanterns to alert nearby cities of approaching attackers. Troops like to use these type of lanterns as signals to other soldiers to message each other briefly.


Inside these lanterns, a strip of kerosene-soaked cloth or paper was placed and was ignited so that the heat could lower the air density inside, making the lantern to rise into the air. The sky lantern is airborne for about 10 to 20 minutes or until the fuel cell is exhausted, after which it will then float back to the ground.


Sky lanterns are also referred to as fire balloons or sky candles. The use of sky lanterns is becoming increasingly popular. Sky lanterns can often be seen in abundance during Lantern Festival, the last day of Chinese New Year. These lanterns are released with wishes to bring lucks and prosperity in the coming year. The lanterns are also used in wedding ceremonies, anniversaries, birthday parties and even grand opening events for businesses. Sky lanterns do not come only in white color, there are also red, orange, yellow, pink and blue color paper lanterns on the market today. The flame is said to symbolize wisdom and knowledge. Many people believe that wishes written on these sky lanterns would rise up to the heaven and come true.

Indonesian Sets Sky Lantern World Record 

AsianCorrespondent on Dec 7, 2009

The world record for the most sky lanterns ever flown simultaneously, was broken in Indonesia at the weekend, with more than ten-thousand paper lanterns sent up into the night sky.  Thousands of people flooded to Carnival beach in Ancol, north Jakarta, to participate in the record breaking attempt. The participants included people of all ages, hailing from different communities, ethnic groups and even countries.

In order to prepare them, participants first filled the lanterns with air to create their tubular shape by gently swaying them from side to side. A candle inside each one was then lit and the lanterns were held for several minutes minutes whilst they inflated with hot air.

Guinness World Records representatives were present to verify the record breaking attempt . The event provided a fantastic sight for miles around as thousands of flickering lanterns drifted skywards. Freedom Faithnet Global said it organized the lantern release as a symbol of hope and prayer as part of annual celebrations. 

This year's celebrations have an environmental focus.