Sky lantern
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Sky lanterns (天燈) are traditionally lanterns made of oiled rice paper with a bamboo frame that contain a small candle or fuel cell, which is a waxy combustible material. When lit the fuel cell heats the air, creating smoke, and causes the lantern to rise into the air. The Sky Lantern is airborn for approximately 15 minutes, or until the fuel cell is exhausted, then the Sky lantern floats back to the ground. They achieve quite a height and launching them in strong winds is not recommended. Sky lanterns are also known as "Kongming lanterns" because historically their invention is credited to Kongming, also known as Zhuge Liang, from the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Alternately the name may come from the lantern's resemblance to the hat Kongming is traditionally shown to be wearing. Pingsi in the Taipei County of Taiwan holds an annual Lantern Festival in which sky lanterns are released.
The people of Northern Thailand also have a variation on sky lanterns. These are known as "Khoom Loy". Northern Thai people use sky lanterns all year round, for celebrations and other special occasions, one festival in particular is the Loi Kratong festival in which lovers and partners gather on the riverbanks to float flowers and candles, launch fireworks and release sky lanterns together. It is considered good luck to release a sky lantern, and many Thais believe they are symbolic of problems and worries floating away.
