Where East Meets West in the Sky

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In today’s fast-paced world, you can travel around the entire globe in a matter of hours.  This pace has brought more and more people together in ways that you may have not considered before now.  As cultures combine, we often will use these unique opportunities to observe and join in their daily lives.  In this way, we can get a better picture of what other cultures are really like.

An ancient wedding tradition
A Chinese wedding is one event that everyone should get to witness at least once in their lives.  A traditional decoration for the special occasion is the Chinese lantern wedding paper lanterns.  These beautiful pieces of artwork (sometimes called Sky Lanterns) have been created to honour and remember the bride and groom at this most important event.

Using paper lanterns in the celebration allows the guests to participate in honouring the couple.  The guests are asked to write personal messages and wishes for good luck onto the lanterns, and then, when evening falls and the sky is dark, they are all lit at the same time and let free to fly away.  The result is amazingly breathtaking as they float away in the darkness with their small lights glimmering in the night sky. 

This practice is a relatively simple one, but it creates one of the most memorable experiences in one's life.  In the past, these lanterns were lit by literal fire, creating a small element of danger, but now they are lit by either battery or some other power source, making them extremely safe to use. 

Mixing cultures together
Chinese lanterns are a common decoration used in every special occasion in the country.  They represent a long history of cultural creativity that is unique to a country so ancient.  The use of these lanterns has withstood the test of time, and they will continue to well into our future.

Now, this practice of using paper lanterns has spread beyond China’s borders, and more and more people from other cultures are embracing the tradition.  Chinese lanterns can be used for many different occasions throughout the year, ranging from the wedding day celebrations to the birth of a baby.  In fact, most occasions honour major events by using these paper lanterns.  It can be as small as only a few people, or it include hundreds of participants.  Whatever the case, these lamps create a beautiful spectacle that can capture the hearts of everyone there.

China represents a very important part of our world culture, and that culture is now joining in with other practices from different regions, creating some new and unique ideas.  You don’t have to have a wedding to use Chinese lanterns, and you don’t have to have a special occasion.  They can be used for just about anything, and the beauty of it is their simplicity.

So, if you are in search of a fresh idea for your wedding or special event, try something like Chinese lantern wedding paper lanterns, or something that is both old and new to give your special day a beautiful memory to be enjoyed by you and your guests.  You can use this time to make your wedding the place where East truly does meet the West in the sky.

Mike is a freelance research writer who has spent time in China and learning about the beauty of their traditions.  She has been privileged to participate in the lighting ceremony of Chinese lantern wedding paper lanterns and loved the experience immensely.  She enjoys sharing little tidbits from their ancient legends and how they still survive within their society today.