LIGHT UP THE LANTERN, LET YOUR WISHES DRIFT WITH IT ON THE RIVER, AND THE SILENCE SAYS IT ALL.

It's amazing, Fire ceremonies have been popular in cultures for hundreds of years. In Chinese and Japanese cultures the Burning of whitches and the bomfire were all popular ways of purifying society and yourself. The little water and sky lanterns, the more friendly fire ceremonies and also the most beautifull, were used to talk to your ancestors. You could send them a message, or help them find their way to the netherworld. In todays cultures, ecspecially in American, people write problems or secrets on the water lanterns and send them down the rivers as a way of release. I think in Irish culture its a forgotten ceremony, that I feel needs to be re-introduced, as it adds a meaning and a closeness to a festival. Im going to try and make a 'Lotus Lantern'. These lanterns were most popular in Chinese cultures and were made by folding paper into the lotus shape and placing a candle in the centre.