Sky Lanterns

FOLK LORE REGARDING FLOATING LANTERNS

The floating lanterns or wish lanterns float away in the air amidst an amazing display of vibrant colors carrying the sorrows and miseries with them.

Wishes can also be inscribed on them and they are allowed to go up heaven wards. These are some of the names the sky lanterns go by.

Other names for a sky lantern include, flying lanterns, Chinese lanterns and Chinese sky lanterns. Other than happy occasions the Chinese lanterns are also used at morbid affairs like funeral or memorial services.

Since societies have become more advanced in their mindsets they tend to celebrate even the funerals in style.

Many individuals are in favor of letting loose helium balloons in loving memory of the deceased.

But keeping the economic aspect in mind and not hurting the sentiments, the Chinese lanterns are far more easy to afford and eco friendly. There is one legend about the Lantern Festival in

China

.

The servant of the emperor, Yuan Xiao, was extremely unhappy to be away from her parents and longed to be with them.
Wish Lanterns

The courtier, Dong Fang was her friend. Dong Fang had heard that the Fire God had been commanded by the Jade Emperor to demolish the entire country on the sixteenth day of the New Year.

Dong Fang devised a plan to help her friend and Yuan Xiao disguised herself as the Fire God.

The emperor was convinced by her to order all the families to prepare tang yuan sweet dumplings which were readily consumed by the real Fire God upon his arrival.

Then the people burst crackers and burnt lanterns which gave the impression of a burning empire, satisfying the ruler.

Thus the lantern festival originated. As for Yuan Xiao she wrote her name on a sky lantern and her parents found her when they came there.