Sky Lanterns
Wow, what a week! Crazy and wonderful. This Christmas has been nothing short of magical.
We celebrated with old traditions and one cool new one inspired by the movie Tangled. Have you seen it? My girls and I went together and loved it. The scene we loved the most was the flying lanterns. 
Much to our delight, we discovered that Chinese Sky Lanterns
Image via www.skylighter.com
Despite a deep fog swirling around our home on Christmas Eve, we all bundled up and went outside. I carefully waved the lantern to fill it with air. Then my husband lit the center fuel disk. It was dramatic and a little scary as it took flame. I held the lantern while the flame heated the air inside. The kids held their breath. When the lantern began to tug in my hands, I let it go. As it rose my kids said it looked like the star of Bethlehem.
The lantern was much larger than I expected, the flames much more powerful. This is not an activity I would recommend in a dry environment or on a windy day. It also wasn’t for the kids to handle. But those warnings aside, it was truly magical to see. I can only imagine sending multiple balloons all at once would make it all the more cool… which I will soon find out… since we will be letting more off at my parent-in-laws’ New Year’s Celebration.
How awesome! We just saw this movie, too, and I was wondering if these lanterns really existed. One question – what happens to the lantern once you let it go? Does it ever come down, or does it just drift away? I’m a litle concerned about that open flame just drifting over my house and into neighbor’s yards! :)
We love sky lanterns! They are made of biodegradable paper, and fly really high in cold air as long as the flame is lit. When the flame goes out the paper lantern drifts down and will dissolve the next time it rains.
Jen, we were worried about the same thing. Our lantern kept going up and up until the flame burned out. Then since it’s a balloon shape, it drifted slowly back down. Because of the fog, we could never find it. It does say on the packaging that they are fully biodegradable, so I am hoping it will dissolve quickly.
Ooooh! Biodegradable – how awesome! This would be so fun to do on New Years Eve – we may have to see if we can track some down. Thanks! :)
What great memories! My son just shot a wedding where they let off several of these lanterns. Now you have me convinced to get some for our family. We live on 5 acres with an amazing sky line. It would be beautiful with all the stars we have. Thank you for sharing. Did you make your daughters Christmas stocking? Or is it a pattern I can get? Happy New Year.
Hi Shannon, My mom made all our stockings. I will do some checking and get back to you on the pattern. I am a HUGE fan of stocking stuffers. I love all the little surprises that can go in a stocking and I’ve loved our stockings because of their perfect size (and the wool applique… and that my mother made them…) This pattern is roomy without being too big.
thank you for this tip! I ordered some for my family! :)
I’d be so afraid to do that but I bet it looked VERY cool. I’m a bit pessimistic however because we had a bad experience one 4th of July when neighbors lit those rockets that go up in the air and a bunch landed on our roof. We had been out of town that year which we will never do again on that holiday because of this. When we got back home we found the bottle rocket things all over our yard and on our roof and all I could think of is what if one hadn’t gone out and started our house on fire since they’ve been known to do that before. I’d be so scared of one of these lanterns coming down on a neighbors house and being responsible for a fire. I think it would be great to go do it in an area where there are no homes and away from the city lights where it would be much more effective since it would be super dark but I’d never do it in town near other homes.