Found traditionally in East Asian cultures Wish lanterns are a flying lantern.
They are constructed with a a lightweight paper cover and fine bamboo frame. To get them airborne they have a fuel cell that when lit fills the lantern with expanding air causing it to float up into the sky. When the fuel cell has stopped burning the lantern will gently float back to the ground.
There are many names for Wish lanterns including Sky Lanterns, Glow Lanterns, Khoom fay, Flying Lanterns, Chinese Lanterns and Sky Candles.
The home of the first ever hot air balloon is said to be Chiang Mai, named the Kongming Lantern after its inventor Zhuge Liang whose term of address or Chinese style name was Kongming. They were first used as a signalling balloon at the turn of the century.
Their use later spread to non-military use as they gained popularity with children at carnivals and lanterns became a part of festivals including the Chinese mid-autumn and Lantern festivals.
The Loi Kratong festival in Thailand features sky lanterns, it is considered good luck to launch a lantern at this festival with locals believing a lantern released symbolizes the release of any worries or problems.
Wish Lantern have grown in use as the western world discovers and enjoys lanterns at weddings, festivals and in memorials. A message can be drawn on the lanterns before they are released to the sky.
Weddings have been enhanced with guests releasing a succession of lanterns, and they help make some amazing photographs.
Lanterns of various sizes and qualities are available worldwide and after extensive trial and research wishlantern.co.nz have found and now offer only premium quality lanterns that are safe and fun to use, be wary of imitations.