Wish Lantern UK » Sky lanterns

Earth vs. Sky Lanterns

author — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:46:42 +0000

Sky Lanterns hit the news from time to time. Sometimes in quite unexpected ways. Such as the recent alien invasion scare in Albany, USA. Two women in the county reported strange, glowing orbs in the sky and were convinced they were UFOs. The husband of one of the women said the orbs formed a Vietnam-style military helicopter formation before breaking ranks. The lack of sound reinforced the idea that the celestial objects were of extraterrestrial origin. One resident even called a friend in the National Guard, who reassured her that there were no military exercises that evening. The mystery was finally solved when the so-called flying saucers turned out to be a squadron of lanterns.

But this wasn’t an isolated case. In Weber County, USA, earlier in 2011, reported UFO sightings proved to be a celebration of a Disney film. A group of juniors from Bonneville High School launched 16 lanterns, inspired by the film “Tangled”. The movie is a retelling of Rapunzel, in which a young girl wishes to see the lanterns she calls stars released each year on her birthday.

While you probably have no desire for the army to be called out when you release a flight of our Sky Lanterns to mark your own little Rapunzel’s birthday, you will know for sure how much attention they will get.

Sky Lanterns to the Rescue

author — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:00:24 +0000

Sky Lanterns are also known as Kongming Lanterns, after their inventor Zhu Ke-Lian (aka Kongming), a famous military strategist in China during the period of the Three Kingdoms (220-280). The story has it Ke-Lian was trapped in the city of Pingyan and could not leave to get help. Being an expert at measuring wind direction, he made a floating paper lantern to send for aid. Eventually he was saved by the army who received his lantern.

While originally used in war to exchange military information, nowadays the lanterns are used to express wishes or good intentions, especially in Mid Autumn and during the Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival, also known as the Yuan Xiao or Shang Yuang Festival, falls on the 15th day of the lunar month. In China the wishes might include those for a successful harvest or well being year after year. Lantern festivals continue take place today, such as the four major events in January and February in the former coal mining towns Pingxi, Jington and Shifen.

Lanterns are now highly popular worldwide, for weddings, birthdays, New Year and other special events. What better way to express your intentions for the year ahead, to offer your best wishes to friends and family, or to create a really special occasion than with our beautiful Sky Lanterns?