CHG_CANON wrote:
Water Lantern Festival by Paul Sager, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53219388407_f8af40e761_h.jpg
Humboldt Park
Chicago, IL
Sept 2023
Water Lantern Festival
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53220262106_be30fe0a90_h.jpg
All lanterns are 100% eco-friendly (made from wood and rice paper) and are then completely cleaned up after the event.
Water Lantern Festival
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53220572483_4467722f8e_h.jpg
The Water Lantern Festival has been voted #1 Best Cultural Festival by USA TODAY two years in a row.
Water Lantern Festival
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53220263231_a2c8255573_h.jpg
The festival has a "no lantern left behind" policy and uses an above water line rope to prevent the lanterns from going any further than predetermined.
Water Lantern Festival
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53220645784_962ea7843f_h.jpg
Some laterns are brightly colored with elaborate designs. Others are covered with intensely personal messages and letters written on them. They all glow in the twilight.
Water Lantern Festival
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53220572253_4c946023bd_h.jpg
The festival doesn’t attempt to base the event on any cultural traditions, although, Asian cultures have traditions that include releasing lights on rivers, lakes and into the air that goes back thousands of years.
Water Lantern Festival
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53220572358_d4eec588e5_h.jpg
Many people bring their own markers and art supplies. Some are there to celebrate something new in their life that they are excited about, a new relationship, a new job. Others come, to let go of something that they have held onto that has caused them discomfort, or as a memorial, to say goodbye to a loved one.
Water Lantern Festival
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53220572178_035e026760_h.jpg
url=https://www.flickr.com/gp/dpsager/q1Qn30b22J ... (
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Paul, I’ve never heard of a”Water Lantern Festival.” Thanks for enlightening me. BTW nice shots.