Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Sky Lantern festivals are gaining in popularity. Every year during Lantern Festival, thousands of people in Ping-xi, Taiwan sky light lanterns and send them off with prayers – a ritual that dates back centuries with counterparts in mainland China, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand. Most common among adherents of traditional folk, Taoist and Buddhist practices the popularity of these festivals is growing steadily throughout Asia and the Western world.

History and Origins

Sky lanterns originated during the 3rd century AD in Ping-xi, Taiwan. The Han settlers of the remote mountain area near Taipei were plagued by murder and robbery so they devised the “sky lanterns” as a signaling method. During peace time people set them off to aid prayer. They would make a wish and send the sky lantern off into the air. They believed the lantern’s ascent would elevate it towards the gods themselves. The practice evolved into rituals for good luck and eventually into a cultural tradition celebrated annually in Ping-xi as Lantern Festival.

Tradition and Belief

The common belief, particularly among Buddhists, is that they symbolize problems floating away. In Thailand, where the lantern’s flame is said to symbolize wisdom, lanterns are offered to temples and monks, givers believing they will receive enlightenment in return. “The lantern’s light shows them to the ‘right path’,” says www.skylanterns.net/About_Sky_Lanterns.asp where a video shows two women sending off a large lantern

Festivals today

In the modern days, Sky Lantern are used throughout Asia to celebrate such occasions as New Year, weddings, birthday parties and anniversaries. The most famous is the Ping-xi Sky Lantern Festival itself. Despite the remoteness of Ping-xi, the festival draws huge crowds and is widely reported in the media. www.gio.gov.tw/info/festival_c/glue_e/taipei1.htm states that the number and size of lanterns increases with each festival. The lanterns are decorated with pictures, names of the owners, and their wishes. They light up the still night sky over the village of creating an unusually beautiful image.

In Thailand’s Yi Peng festival the lanterns resemble flocks of giant fluorescent jellyfish floating gracefully through the skies. They are believed to help rid people of their troubles and are also used to decorate houses and streets. The most elaborate Yi Peng celebrations are in Chiang Mai. Northern Thais use sky lanterns all year round for any special occasion. The Loy Kratong festival is one in which lovers gather on the riverbanks to float flowers and candles, launch fireworks and release sky lanterns together. Khom Loi is now so popular with Thais that it has become an integral part of the Loy Krathong festival all over the country.

The record for sky lanterns was broken in December 2009 at the annual Freedom Faithnet Global Event in Jakarta when 10,318 lanterns were lit simultaneously. Night Sky Lanterns, makers of the first eco friendly sky lantern (all biodegradable materials and no metal wire) sums it up in their blog, “As the last one floats into the air you will see the sky aglow with the warm illumination from the lanterns. Not only will you be following a time honoured tradition of well wishes by releasing the night sky lanterns into the air but you will have a spectacular display that can be seen for several miles.”

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Monday, April 26th, 2010

Sky Lanterns can be a splendid way to enhance a wedding but they also pose certain risks. Though they produce a stunning glow drifting into the night sky there is concern regarding fire hazards, metal wire and waste. Night Sky Lanterns is the first to offer a practical solution. This year they introduced the first 100% bio-degradable Eco Sky Lantern containing no metal parts, as shown at http://www.nightskylanterns.co.uk/eco-lanterns/cat_19.html. The same page claims they will be “be fully Eco Friendly by the end of 2010″.

Fire hazard

Sky Lanterns are typically constructed of rice paper on a bamboo frame, and contain a small candle or fuel cell composed of a waxy flammable material. The flame heats the air inside the lantern, lowering its density and causing the lantern to rise into the air. When the flame expires the lantern floats back to the ground. Some people are concerned there may be a danger of them coming down alight on flammable ground. Since the lantern falls when the flame expires this is not likely. Nonetheless, the design of this new Sky Lantern incorporates flame retardant paper combined with a new ‘attached’ fuel cell.

Threat to livestock

A more important concern is the metal wire holding the fuel cell in place. A Daily Mail article posted at http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/ethicallivingblog/2009/jul/31/sky-lanterns details the risks to livestock and wildlife of slow and painful death from ingesting the small metal wire. Most sky lanterns use a metal wire approximately 20 cm long to secure the fuel cell. While the rice paper and bamboo rim can biodegrade in several weeks the metal wire can take months, even years. A spokesman for The National Farmers Union warns of the dangers: “They can be eaten by livestock, which can cause them to choke, or pieces of wire can be gathered up when grass is cut for silage, which means they get into their feed. Pieces of wire can also get entangled in their feet.” The new Eco Lantern replaces the metal wire with a thin rope-like material called ‘Dragon Wool’ eliminating all wire from the lantern. The flame resistant wool is biodegradable and will not cause any harm if ingested.

Pollution

The other major challenge is eliminating the waste left behind when they fall back to earth. They’re going to land somewhere. At the very least they are an eyesore to be cleaned up. Night Sky Lanterns’ wire-free lanterns are a significant step in their becoming “fully Eco Friendly by the end of 2010″. The rice paper, bamboo and Dragon Wool are all natural fibres. And unlike fireworks, which release toxic chemicals, Sky Lanterns do not produce toxic gases.

Common sense

Other potential dangers can be averted with a little common sense. The FAQ page of Night Sky Lanterns’ website lists how to avoid them, such as not launching them in strong winds or within 5 miles of an airfield or airport, and that “Launching a sky lantern in an inappropriate location or manner may cause damage to persons or property which could make you liable for criminal damage and prosecution.” Think before you launch. With an Eco Sky Lantern and a little common sense you can light up the night sky at your wedding.

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Friday, April 23rd, 2010

For Earth Day today conservation is key. People everywhere are celebrating this day by planting trees or renewing their commitment to saving the environment. While you are celebrating the earth today, though, why not use sky lanterns? Recent news has discussed some issues pertaining to sky lanterns in that they are not ecologically friendly. All sky lanterns are biodegradable. However, there is a bit of metal that takes a bit longer to degrade than the rest of the lantern. But, those times are changing. Now there is a new and improved sky lantern available on the market that is even more eco friendly. If going green is your goal for this year, consider using eco lanterns for all your celebrations.

What is different about eco lanterns?

All sky lanterns available are beautiful additions to any celebration. They are flame retardant and safe for use. So what is so different about eco lanterns? The primary difference is that they are 100% biodegradable and contain no metal parts whatsoever. The exclusion of any metal on the eco sky lanterns makes them degrade faster. Although all sky lanterns are biodegradable, the eco lanterns will degrade at a much faster rate with exposure to the elements. You will be sure that after you launch the lanterns into the sky that they will be completely safe when they land. Animals coming across them will not be harmed by any of the materials and the environment won’t be harmed because they will quickly degrade with no evidence they were there remaining.

What are the product specifications of the eco lanterns?

There are two different types of eco lanterns available. One comes in the traditional white and one has assorted colours. The coloured eco lanterns are slightly larger than the traditional ones and come in packs of five. You can choose from five colours including white, red, pink, blue or orange. Or, you can opt for the mixed colour package that comes with an assortment of colours. Each sky lantern is individually wrapped for easy storage and they are very compact. You can store them until you are ready to use them. The fuel cells are attached making the lantern quick and easy to launch. Because these sky lanterns are 100% biodegradable and are also flame resistant, the lanterns are the safest available for use on the market today!

Use eco lanterns for all you celebrations and get togethers

When you have any type of gathering, whether formal or informal, eco lanterns are a great way to enhance the festive spirit. Informal gatherings such as a child’s birthday party or backyard barbecue for a sporting event are perfect times to launch eco friendly lanterns. You can even personalize the lanterns by writing messages on them before setting them to the sky. Formal events such as weddings are also perfect times for using eco lanterns. This is a traditional time to launch the lanterns and with it send your well wishes and good luck thoughts to the heavens.

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