Paper lantern
A paper lantern is a lantern made of thin, brightly colored paper.[1] Paper lanterns come in various shapes and sizes, as well as various methods of construction. In their simplest form, they are simply a paper bag with a candle placed inside, although more complicated lanterns consist of a collapsible bamboo or metal frame of hoops covered with tough paper.
Origin
Paper lanterns are likely derived from earlier lanterns that used other types of translucent material like
Types
There are three general types of paper lanterns, they are:
- Hanging lantern - the basic type of paper lantern used for illumination. They are meant to be carried, hung, or mounted on stands.
- Sky lantern - a small hot air balloon made of paper, with an opening at the bottom where a small fire is suspended. Also known as "flying lanterns", "sky candles" or "fire balloons."
- Water lantern - paper lanterns that float on the surface of water.
By region
In addition to everyday usage as a light source in the past, paper lanterns are commonly associated with festivals in East Asian, Southeast Asian, and South Asian cultures.
East Asia
China & Taiwan
Paper lanterns are called Dēnglóng (simplified Chinese: 灯笼; traditional Chinese: 燈籠) in China.
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Lantern festival at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hallin Taiwan
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Lanterns above the street in London's Chinatown
Japan
In Japan
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Japanese Lantern Makers, photo by T. Enami
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Achochinlantern from Japan
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Hexagonalbonbori lamps the Ise Grand Shrine
Southeast Asia
Philippines
In the
Dating back to the
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A simple star-shapedcapiz shells
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Parols for sale
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Programed electronic parols during the 2012 Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando, Pampanga
Thailand
During the
Thousands of sky lanterns called khom loi (
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Yi Pengin Thailand.
Vietnam
Two traditional festivals in Vietnam have prominent roles for lanterns:
- Vu Lan on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. Buddhist temples traditionally would host the release of floating water lanterns down river courses on small paper crafts with sticks of incense and written prayers.
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An old woman releases water lanterns in Hội An
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Buddhists and monks prepare to water lanterns on the occasion of Vu Lan
- Tết Trung Thu, (Mid-Autumn festival) also known as the Children's Festival (Tết Nhi Đồng) on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Children would parade in the streets with lit lanterns (rước đèn) with accompanying music and songs after sunset. The lanterns in this case are whimsical with a multitude of shapes and themes like fish, star... The lanterns are typically in transparent colored papers.
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Star-shaped lanterns of tết Trung Thu.
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Star-shaped lanterns
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The street of colourful lanterns - Léon Busy (1874-1951)
In addition to the above two festivals, paper lanterns are also hung by Vietnamese people on the occasion of the
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Paper lantern, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology - Hanoi
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Paper lanterns are hung during the Tết Nguyên Đán in Bát Tràng village
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Paper lanterns in Hanoi's Old Quarter
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Đại Trung Gate,Văn Miếu
Paper lanterns are also used to attract visitors, for example,
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Paper Lanterns in the streets of Hội An
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Paper Lanterns in Thương xá Tax
Malaysia & Singapore
Paper lanterns are used especially in Chinatown areas in countries having notable Chinese ethnicity heritage.
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Lanterns inChinatown, Kuala Lumpur
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Lanterns in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur
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Lanterns at Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown, Singapore
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Lanterns at Buddha Tooth Relic temple
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Lanterns in Singapore during Chinese New Year
South Asia
Sri Lanka
Colorful paper lanterns called vesak kuudu are hung outside houses during the Buddhist festival of Vesak.[10]
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Traditional Vesak lanterns during Vesak in Sri Lanka
Americas
United States
Placing candles or
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Luminarias during Christmas in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Europe
During the
In Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other German-speaking and some Dutch-speaking parts of Europe there is a tradition of the Sankt-Martins-Umzug (Sint-Maarten in Dutch), during which children parade with paper lanterns that are traditionally handmade.
In photography
High-wattage paper lanterns are commonly used in lighting for motion picture productions. Commonly referred to as "China balls", they provide soft, edgeless light to a scene.[15]
See also
References
- ^ "Chinese lantern". The Free Dictionary. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- ^ ISBN 0521086906.
- ^ Hogben, Lancelot. "Printing, Paper and Playing Cards". Bennett, Paul A. (ed.) Books and Printing: A Treasury for Typophiles. New York: The World Publishing Company, 1951. pp. 15–31. p. 17. & Mann, George. Print: A Manual for Librarians and Students Describing in Detail the History, Methods, and Applications of Printing and Paper Making. London: Grafton & Co., 1952. p. 77
- ISBN 0-8264-8749-1. Retrieved December 20, 2007.
- ISBN 0-8020-2938-8. Retrieved December 20, 2007.
- ^ "Christmas decors, Filipino-style" (in Tagalog). GMA news.TV. December 10, 2007. Retrieved December 20, 2007.
- ^ Tan, Nigel (17 December 2016). "PH X'mas symbols, practices trace roots to Spanish era". Rappler. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ "Lantern Festival of the Yee Peng Month". Archived from the original on 2013-02-28.
- ^ "No urban place for Loy Krathong" (Opinion). Bangkok Post. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ "Vesak". Lakpura. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ISBN 9780195146394.
- ^ Greene, Bizia (27 December 2017). "Holiday charm of farolitos started in the Philippines". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ "Our View: Why luminarias should be your new (old) Christmas tradition". 21 December 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ISBN 0-913270253.
- ISBN 1-85669-334-1.
External links
- Media related to Paper lanterns at Wikimedia Commons