It seems extraordinary that so many people can mistake sky lanterns for something altogether more otherwordly. The only similarity- assuming you base your idea of what a UFO looks like on the film Independence Day- is that both inhabit the sky. That’s really it.
There’s nothing about a sky lantern that is remotely similar to what could be described as an alien spaceship. Why then have there been so many supposed UFO sightings? Is it little Miss Smith wanting her five minutes of fame as she informs the local Press of a strange light in the night sky? Or do these people genuinely believe that other life forms in the form of fire balls are threatening human existence? What was going through Miss Jones’ head for instance (I have used a false name to protect her identity) when she called police in the wee small hours because she had seen a hovering light?
On the scale of things, a hovering light doesn’t exactly top the bill in the earth shattering, life threatening stakes. It’s not on a par with say, spotting an axe murderer in your hedge, or finding a ticking bomb in your back garden.
Seeing as Sky Lanterns and wish lanterns, are only going to increase in popularity, it’s likely that more of these ‘sightings’ will crop up in the near future. One couple recently reported to have seen over forty lights in the last week- We see lights practically every other night -they said- At first we thought they were planes, but there’s no sound or flashing... Yes, that’s because they’re made of rice paper.
So, lets clear this up once and for all. Sky lanterns are not UFO’s. If you see a light in the sky. Stop, think, have a little ponder, and you’ll probably come to the conclusion that there’s nothing much to write home about. after all.
Wishlantern.co.uk is your leading supplier of Sky lanterns (not UFOs) for weddings and celebrations. We can be reached on 0845 500 1215 or by emailing the team sales@wishlantern.co.uk
Chinese Lanterns…they’ve turned up at Glastonbury, at Big Lunches accross the UK, and have put on a show at Field Day. Now they’re marking out their territory at the Big Chill Festival, and causing a sensation in the process.
Yes, lanterns go hand in hand with music festivals these days. So much so in fact, that soon it will seem positively odd to see a group of people gathering to celebrate the sounds of the moment without a chinese lantern in their hands ready for the launching. The Big Chill Festival was as thrilling as ever this year thanks in part to the droves of sky lanterns lighting up the clear night skies.
It had expanded for 2009 with The Funky Bison bar, Sailor Jims Rum bar and Mr Scruff’s very own tent adding to the ever growing list of spots churning out consistently top class music. The main stage was quite the musical tour de force, occupied at various times by the likes of Basement Jaxx, David Bryne, Norman Jay, and Orbital. It was during the latter’s set, that chinese lanterns made their startling appearance, released by the hordes of enthusiastic revellers.
If you want to see the lanterns in their full glory, check out jonny Baker’s stunning snaps of sky lanterns at the big chill. I think you’ll agree that they have a truly magical quality that seems to seep out of the still frame. Now, imagine them in motion, ascending to the sounds of intoxicating melodies and discordant chords…The Big Chill just wouldn’t have been the same without them.
Wishlantern.co.uk is your leading supplier of Chinese Lanterns for weddings and celebrations. We can be reached on 0845 500 1215 or by emailing the team sales@wishlantern.co.uk
Chinese Lanterns have been very popular this season and the team at Chinese Lanterns have had some great fun trying to capture high quality pic’s on film of these magical objects cascading into the skies.
Well to be honest not actually on film as we tend to prefer the convenience digital camera’s offer; Instant review and edit of your shots as well as the ability to take shots in the 1000’s in one outing! Makes a nice change from the mere 24 shots my old Kodak instamatic could handle. Video recording is now a handy bundled extra for some impromptu Spielberg moments and is littering the webspace known as YouTube as you read this.
I recently purchased a new camera and can assure you it was an involved and lengthy process. I feel I should share my experiences and have broken the camera’s into 3 Categories and named my favourite model for each. I must mention I am by no means a professional photographer but I am a passionate consumer and have spent countless hours comparing specifications, value for money and reviews for consumer/prosumer models
1. Compact
A compact camera needs to be well ‘compact’ it also needs to be able to take a decent pic and have decent battery life and clear display screen. My favourite camera in this category was the Canon SD780 which has all these features and more, it even features High Def. Video capture and comes in a range of stylish colours. Pop one in your purse or top pocket for life’s spontaneous moments and you won’t regret it.
2. Rugged
Life’s not always rainbows and fluffy bunnies and when your snowboarding Whistlers backcountry or snorkelling in Hawaii you need a camera that can handle the pressure, how else can you prove those trick moves you’ve been bragging of to your mates or that beautiful Clown fish following you around the lagoon. My fav was the Olympus MJU 8000 which is Shockproof to 2m, Waterproof to 10m, Crushproof to 100kgand freezeproof to -10°C. Image quality is good and versatility is second to none.
3. SuperZoom
Calling all birdwatchers, peeping tom’s and National Geographic Photographer wannabies. If you’re looking for a camera that can get up close and personal so you don’t have to then check out the Canon SX10is. I really loved this camera. It produces clear detailed pictures, features a very useful articulating (bendy,rotating) lcd screen and can zoom 20x optical. More than enough for most people it is slightly bigger than the other two models I reviewed but still more portable than a professional model and designed for a variety of situations. Video quality on this model is great and if you need more features for an extra £100 you can get the upspec’d SX1s version that includes HD quality video capabilities.
I haven’t tried to baffle you with spec’s too much but it you’d like to know more feel free to reply to this post. I’d also recommend the very useful site dPreview.com as an excellent source of information. Happy Snapping! WishLantern.co.uk is your leading supplier of Chinese Lanterns for weddings and celebrations. Please call us on 0845 500 1215 or email sales@wishlantern.co.uk
In recent months, there has been an influx of news coverage about sky lanterns and the problems they seem to be causing for society at large. There were the farmers who denounced sky lanterns as “lethal litter” which also pose a serious threat to cows who might inadvertantly chomp down the small wire attached to the fuel cells. There were the coastguards and local residents who mistook the lanterns for distress signals, oh, and there were residents of Kinmen, Taiwan who asked for sky lanterns to be banned when they supposedly caused a fire. It seems that these one hundred percent biodegradable, delicate decorative party accessoies, are society’s latest menace…I think not.
Here’s the truth of it, Sky lanterns, chinese lanterns and wish lanterns, are in themselves one of the safest things on the market, like anything, it’s what some individuals choose to do with them that causes the real problems. If you read the safety instructions (or just use a bit of common sense), you’ll note that it is never a good idea to release a lantern in a wooded area (nor in a mine zone as was the case in Taiwan), or when it is particularly windy (as their flight path becomes un predicatable), nor should you let intoxicated, irresponsible individuals, or youngsters handle the lanterns, lest they break them, or burn themselves. There is no reason at all why lanterns should be considered safety hazzards. Even in the farmers’ gripe hasn’t much weight to it. Of course lantern litter- like any litter- should always be disposed of safely at the earliest opportunity, but the small wire which will disintegrate at some stage, is far less of a culprit than cans, cigarrette buts, and small bits of plastic from foodstuffs that litter the land.
The real problem is that sky lanterns are becoming immensely popular. With more and more people releasing them than ever before, there will inevitably be the odd complication. These are isolated cases however so, what I advise, is that you just take a bit of care whilst you enjoy yourself. Simple.
Chinese Lanterns have been around for centuries. Invented by the renowned military strategist, Zhuge Liang (also known as Kong Ming), these lanterns were originally used as signalling devices in times of warfare. Well, it appears that they are going back to their roots…
In an ironic twist of fate, Chinese lanterns are causing some controversy in coastal areas across the UK because they are being mistaken for distress signals. Recent news has recorded that innocent parties marking the passing of a loved one or celebrating with their families have caused chaos when their lanterns provoked over-sensitive coastguard officers to alert rescue teams. It would appear that these graceful, slowly ascending paper objects can be all too easily mistaken for whopping great flare guns…hmmm.
Of course, emergency services are there for a reason; to avert and prevent potential emergencies, far better that they assume the worst than turn a blind eye towards a real life-threatening situation. But really, in this instance, a pair of binoculars might just do the trick. Launching a sky lantern (or many lanterns) is a wonderful way of marking an important occasion, whether it be a wedding, birth, or death and it would be truly tragic if this were no longer permitted in certain areas. So, if you live in a coastal town and intend to release some Chinese lanterns this weekend, perhaps exercise a little caution and inform those short-sighted coastguards beforehand!
To my joy and delight, our beautiful white Chinese Lanterns (or Wish Lanterns) made a very significant appearance on television the other night. I was flicking through a few channels last Monday- a very dismal selection of offerings- when I came accross a program starring Sue Perkins and Giles Coren called, The Supersizers Eat.. You’ve probably seen it. It’s in one of those prime-time spots competing with the likes of Wife Swap and Ashes to Ashes. Anyway, the premise is that two comedians eat their way through different periods in history to see what effect it has on their bodies, mind, and…er… bowels. It’s Masterchef meets Simon Sharma, meets Embarrassing Bodies.
This week, the two quippers were living the life of Marie Antoinette and King Louis during the tumultuous period of the French Revolution. Whilst chomping through about 10,000 calories a day, squeezing into corsets, and playing billiards, they also managed to light and launch some Chinese lanterns as a way of marking the end of the Ancien Regime and the days of feasting and extravagance that went along with it(for the Aristocrats that is). They each released a chinese lantern into the night sky kitted out in their finery, and the effect was magical. While watching the lanterns float away, Sue proclaimed a spontaneous “Oh that’s so nice!” as the shot faded out.
So there you are, Chinese Lanterns are not just for weddings, they also lend themselves to historical re-enactments and popular television series…
Here at the Wish Lantern UK head office, we have long stood by our white chinese lanterns, believing (and for the most part, rightly so) that the white lantern exuded a certain refined elegance and grace that customers seemed to respond too. Certainly many prospective brides and grooms were keen on the white chinese lantern as it blended in so nicely with the ivories and creams of the bridal decor and dress. Others- those throwing parties, celebrating birthdays, or just having a regular friday night- were more than happy with the white lanterns we offer, not even thinking to request any other sort…Well, now that has all changed.
As of a few weeks ago, the wish lantern team has launched coloured lanterns onto the market, so that now customers have the choice as to whether they want to go with the graceful white, or the more festive and carnivalesque coloured lanterns. Our coloured chinese lanterns come in a range of colours including, red, yellow, green, blue and pink, and cost the same as our white lanterns. For your convenience, these have been listed below. Alternatively visit our purchase page and place your order for coloured lanterns today…
5 pack coloured lanterns £16.49 (incl. post and packaging)
10 pack coloured lanterns £27.99 (incl. post and packaging)
25 pack coloured lanterns £65.99 (incl. post and packaging)
50 pack coloured lanterns £82.99 (incl. post & packaging)
100 pack coloured lanterns £159.99 (incl. post & packaging)
Chinese Lanterns have gradually but surely become an integral part of the festival experience and Glastonbury is surely the ultimate- the big daddy- of all festivals. This year, the lanterns made an even more significant appearance in the Somerset fields, as they featured as part of Blur’s emotional set which closed the festival on Sunday night. This was the first time that Blur has taken to Glastonbury’s stage since 1998 and it was a euphoric and affecting performance- not least because the sight of sky lanterns floating towards the moody skies created such a breath taking spectacle.
They even inspired one Glasto-poet to write a stanza in honour of them in his poem For Tomorrow: Ten unsteady Chinese lanterns sailed
across the sky like lovers,
lovers who had wounded us
whom we had not seen for years.
Neither did they escape the attention of the headline act. Damon Albarn from Blur commented that “they are beautiful” adding “It seems like there’s been a really, really positive atmosphere here”, no doubt helped along by the calming, hypnotic Chinese lanterns being launched.
So there you have it- Chinese lanterns, wish lanterns, whatever you want to call them- never fail to impress, even at Glastonbury. If you are interested in purchasing one of our beautiful lanterns please click here.
As well as playing Michael Jackson’s records offering words of praise for the hugely talented singer, launching sky lanterns seem a very appropriate way of heralding such a unique, fraught and glittering life as Michael Jackson’s. Here at the Wish Lantern headquarters in Wimbledon, we were all shocked and distraught to hear of the news of Michael Jackson’s untimely death this morning, and we were certainly not alone. As reports circulated of Jackson’s cardiac arrest and the failed attempts to revive him, crowds gathered in Harlem, New York and California, to mourn his death and pay tribute to the life of the controversial pop icon. Though he was certainly a troubled character and was involved in some very questionable activities, his talent and impact on a whole era of music was and is undeniable. It is a great loss.
For a while now, customers have been calling upon sky lanterns not only to see them through their most happy times, but also to mark the passing of a loved one, and to celebrate a life that has been extinguished. A sky lantern will be launched today in honour of Michael Jackson, who died at the age of fifty.
It’s astonishing the rate at which sky lanterns have gained widespread recognition, they’re really taking off (please excuse the pun), and flying high in every sense of the word. In fact, the popularity of wish lanterns is getting so immense, that they may soon be making their stage debut. They’ve already shown their rice paper faces on such high profile TV shows as Come Dine with Me and River Cottage but imagine the impact they could have floating to the rafters of a grand west end auditorium…The idea that sky lanterns could wing their way into theatres all started when a singer friend of mine approached me about purchasing some wish lanterns for his production of The Marriage of Figaro. They’d certainly create quite a spectacle on a large stage, set against the bright and buoyant music of Mozart. They’d be show stoppers, overshadowing even the principle singers. Then there’d be no stopping them. They’d be all over the papers within a few months, holding interviews, being hounded by the paparazzi. Let’s just hope they don’t crash and burn and end up, like so many other high flyers, in a crumpled heap on the floor!
It seems extraordinary that so many people can mistake sky lanterns for something altogether more otherwordly. The only similarity- assuming you base your idea of what a UFO looks like on the film Independence Day- is that both inhabit the sky. That’s really it. 
