Welcome to my blog, where I take pleasure in words and pictures, be they my own or those of others. I'm a creative individual, and the crafty side I explore on my 'other blog', Picking Up The Threads, which I hope you'll visit too. I'm sure you understand that I have sole copyright of my original work and any of my contributions, so please ask if you want to use them. A polite request is rarely refused. So, as they used to say on the BBC's 'Listen With Mother' radio programme, many years ago: "Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin."

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Light My Fire

 ‘After Dark’ is the prompt Carmi from Written inc. has given us this week for his Thematic Photographic challenge. On Christmas Night, here in Lanzarote, after we’d had a great day with family and friends, and finally got round to opening our stockings, we rounded  off the day with the (new local custom of) lighting a Chinese Lantern and sending it off into the night sky.

This one was a bit resistant at first, but finally succumbed and we watched, on a perfectly still night, as it gently wafted its way over the rooftops and safely out to sea. Of course we made a wish!

2020 update. We know so much more these days about the unintended consequences of setting these lanterns off and wouldn't dream of doing so.





Then it was back indoors to tidy up the table decorations.............
....and have a little nightcap!

Cheers!


11 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh! I completely want to copy this custom myself! What a wonderful idea! Did you or someone else post something like this on Sepia Saturday before? I recall something nearly the same as this.... can't you just imagine the town sky if say a dozen or more people sent these off together! The sky would be simply aglow! You know I have to look into this most marvelous idea and I know (like my entire) close family would enjoy making a silent? wish and send it off into the darkness! Thanks for posting these, awesome after dark photos of celebration! If anything it could (also) be done as a send off on Dec 31 into the new year of fortunes and well wishes!

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  2. Karen, there were several others sending them off too. On New Year’s Eve they tend to light them earlier, before they get lost in the the fireworks! I’ve never posted about them before.

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  3. There is a growing trend in the UK, and I'm determined to do it myself next year. A fine way to mark the turning of the year.

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  4. Sounds like a wonderful evening, I've seen these for sale but never had a go. I like fireworks, but these are so much more suitable for Christmas, beautiful and peaceful.

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  5. It really looks so delightful and what a way to welcome in a new year....and say good-bye to our past.... I told my oldest about it today, and he's in full agreement too! He's so like that, about following family traditions and all the little magic we find in simple celebrations! Thanks again for posting this!

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  6. Great story - thanks for showing it to us! Did you buy it, or make it yourself, I wonder?

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  7. With a name like Chinese Lanterns I thought that this was entirely an eastern custom. I haven't seen one in the UK.

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  8. I rather like this new custom. Some people try to launch them over here, but they don't get far when faced with the Pennine winds. Mind you, I half suspect it is people from Lancashire trying to burn us out of our ancestral homes.

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  9. Beautiful photos - and a lovely lantern. Hope your wish comes true! And I liked that little angel with the tea light inside!

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  10. I love this custom. It reminds me of the one Memorial Day I participated in in Honolulu, where the lanterns were set afloat on the sea at dusk. It was very beautiful and moving.

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  11. Hi Nell! Happy New Year! That would scare me to death ... what if they went the wrong way and landed on a building or something? I'm sure you guys have that all figured out though. It is a beautiful custom, kind of like a bigger version of blowing out the candles on a birthday cake.

    Thank you so much for welcoming me home. You will never guess what Mom sent me home with on the way home from our trip. Tons of letters and postcards that our family has called "The Letsom Letters" bundled together in no particular order. I have my work cut out for me, but am so excited to go through everything.

    See you soon!

    Kathy M.

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