Safety Guide: How to Use a Flying Lantern Properly

If you haven't launched a lantern so far, you've missed a unique show. Originating in Asia, lanterns have become popular in our country, representing a sensational way to liven up a party or simply to engage in an act with ancient spiritual connotations.

Find out below some information about the history of flying lanterns, as well as safety instructions for launching them. Once informed, we also tell you where you can buy the most beautiful and safest lanterns!

What are the flying lanterns?

Today, lanterns are present at those parties where the hosts want to offer their guests a unique moment, full of deep meanings, but these objects come from Asia, where they initially had completely different uses.

It seems that the first flying lanterns were made of colored rice paper and were raised in the sky by a small candle set inside, in ancient China, as early as the third century BC. Their role was initially to ward off evil spirits.

Legend has it that the origin of this custom was related to the desire of the people to improve the God of Fire, who had threatened to set fire to the capital of the empire. Thus, it was concluded that the lanterns raised in the air after the Buddhist monks model would deceive the god from a distance, leading him to believe that the city had already caught fire.

Later, the flying lanterns became the utensils used in the army, where they had the gift of transmitting information to the armies, but also of leading the opponent by the nose. Among the people, lanterns have become the bearers of luck and prosperity, there is the belief that the higher a lantern rises to the sky, the faster your desire for divinity will be heard.

Today, lanterns are used in large numbers for the transition to the Chinese New Year, the "Feast of Lanterns" bringing together thousands and thousands of such flying lanterns. In Thailand, lanterns are launched by lovers so that love can be protected from obstacles.

In our country, colored lanterns are present at the hottest parties, but also at weddings and baptisms. Their release composes a moment of depth full of spectacle, in which it is as if you can hear the hearts beating in unison, in the rhythm of thousands of desires that rise to the sky.

Safety instructions to keep in mind when launching a streetlight

Such a moment full of magic should not be disturbed by risks. Therefore, it is good to remember the most important safety precautions, because once you let go of the sky, you are the one responsible for any damage that the lantern can cause.

Launch the flying lantern from a safe place. In most cases, the lanterns are safe and do not pose any danger. When the fuel pellet is lit, the lantern is launched into the sky and will fly until the flame is exhausted, extinguishing, and then the messenger of your dream falls to the ground. Moreover, today's lanterns are made of biodegradable materials, so as not to threaten the planet.

Which doesn't mean you're safe! It is vital to be careful where you throw a lantern: choose open places, vast fields, or parks, but make sure there are no trees nearby, roofs, or power lines to block the lantern.

Avoid areas with dry vegetation that can ignite if the lamppost does not go out until it touches the ground and makes sure that there are no other flammable obstacles in its path.

Do not throw lanterns near airports or areas with many planes (the safety perimeter generally starts at 9 km), but also in forests, in populated areas, near refineries, gas stations, indoors, near bus routes, or car parks.

Flying lanterns need good weather. To be able to watch them and enjoy the show, the lanterns must be launched in good weather. If it rains, they can go out and the wind can push them to overcrowded areas.

Follow the instructions for use! Unpack the lamp, making sure the material is completely stretched, with no folded areas, and that the paper is not damaged in any way. Do not throw a broken or perforated lantern, as it will collapse prematurely and may cause a fire.

Fill the lantern with air, holding it to the round frame at the bottom and shaking it gently back and forth, as you would with a shopping bag. Be gentle, as any sudden movement can compromise the lantern.

Attach the fuel cell, if it is not already installed. To do this, pass the two-wire mesh through the hole in the fuel cell and then separate the mesh as far as you can to make sure the cell is as secure as possible.

Light the fuel pellet with the lantern upside down. After all 4 corners have been lit, turn the lantern into the correct position, taking care that the flame does not touch the paper.

Hold the lantern at the top, making sure it is perfectly vertical and that the flame is away from the paper. You will notice how the air heats up in the lantern, and it becomes easier and easier, encouraging you to let it go.

Release him, pushing him lightly into the sky. If it does not rise on its own, wait a few more seconds and then try again.

It's not a safety instruction, but when you turn on the lamp, don't forget to make your wish and do it with all your heart. Some cultures also stick to the tradition of writing the person's name or dream on the lamppost before lighting it but are careful not to damage it.