This is not the first time we have encountered luminous fakes with our own hands. You already know how to do... Today we will learn how to make aerial “fireflies”.

Sky lanterns are a traditional holiday attribute that came to us from Japanese culture. With the help of this simple item you can decorate and diversify almost any celebration, from a fun corporate party to a wedding.

You can buy such a holiday accessory for $5-10, depending on the quality and size.

But, you see, it’s much more pleasant to launch your own, homemade mini-balloon into flight. So if you want to make Chinese sky lanterns with your own hands, then be patient, free time, as well as some materials.

You will need:

Size and shape

First, estimate the approximate height of the finished flashlight. As a rule, one meter is enough. A flashlight of this size takes off well and does not get lost at altitude. After that, think about what shape it will be (eg heart, cylinder, etc.).

Type and color

After this, we move on to the technical side of the choice - determining the type and color of paper. It must be not only durable, but also soft, light and thin, so that the flashlight can soar into the heavenly heights without hindrance

Consider one important point: if the paper weight is more than 25 grams per square meter, then the mini-balloon simply won’t take off.

So choose your paper carefully - this is one of the most important points.

Preparing the paper

To begin, saturate the selected material with a fire retardant. This is necessary in order to prevent the possibility of the ball catching fire, and also to protect it from getting wet.

If you want to make a meter-high Chinese lantern, then cut the prepared paper into four pieces measuring 100 by 80 cm, which will be longer at the bottom and flattened at the top. We glue them together using regular PVA glue.

Making a burner

In order to make a paper lantern, which will later fly safely, we will definitely need a burner. To make it, melt the wax and dip a piece of lint-free cloth into it, saturating it with it.

Let the wax cool, and at this point the process of making the burner can be considered complete.

Frame making

We wrap two foil tubes onto a knitting needle. After this, we place these same tubes in a cross, and attach our burner to the center. We wrap all this with copper wire so that the structure does not fall apart.

This story about sky lanterns is more of a legend, but a very beautiful legend. In the 11th century, many monks lived in one of the Chinese villages. Their life was hard, they had to work most of the day in order not only to feed themselves, but also to maintain life in the village. Like most peasants, they were engaged in agriculture. Unfortunately, the local climate and soil did not allow growing decent harvest. In addition, the situation worsened every year; they received less and less rice.

Watching all their efforts go to waste, the villagers began to give up. The leader of the monks, respected Mr. Zhi Ling, realizing that this could not be left like this, tried in every possible way to raise the spirits of all the residents. To prevent the growth of lawlessness and theft, Zhi Ling, together with his monks, began to pray every evening. Along with prayer, torches were lit throughout the village. People believed that the flame from torches cleanses the soul, gives peace and gives strength. Soon, all the villagers, without noticing it, lost their worries, lost their stifling boredom and gained strength not only to work but also to live. Life in the village slowly began to improve, and rice harvests increased. The ritual with fire began to be carried out every week; this helped maintain the life of the village in a stable direction.

Observing the benefits the rituals bring, Zhi Ling decided to add a little symbolism and beauty to them. Having gathered the monks, Zhi proposes to build a small balloon out of rice paper. It was this moment that marked the beginning of the history of the Sky Lanterns. The lantern consisted of a bamboo frame covered with light rice paper. Having made several dozen balloons, the monks distributed them to residents. At the end of the week, the long-awaited ceremony took place. Residents split into pairs. One of the couple was holding sky lattern, the second from below brought an open fire. The flame of the fire illuminated the flashlight with a soft light. Dozens of “fireflies” illuminated the entire village; it was a truly mesmerizing sight. As soon as the structures were filled with hot air, they took off for a few seconds, after which they returned to the hands of people. This went on again and again. Watching this action, Liin thought about how to attach the torch to the frame so that the flame of the fire would support and raise the flashlight constantly. The monks suggested stretching a thin wire onto the frame and fixing a small roll of paper, thoroughly soaked in wax, in the center. As a result, the monks got what they wanted. The Sky Lantern, illuminated with a beautiful light, soared into the skies, bestowing joy on all residents.

This ceremony developed into a custom that was performed at every paznik, be it a birthday, a wedding or a harvest festival. Each ceremony filled people with new strength, gave joy, peace and confidence. The village prospered happily. Residents began to grow new crops: cotton, tea. The news of magical Sky Lanterns gradually spread throughout Asia.

During these times, the territory of modern China was dominated by the Mongols. In the famous village there lived one guy, Zhu Yuanjang, the son of an ordinary peasant. He really didn't like this situation. Having matured a little, the guy decided to organize an uprising and finally drive out the invaders from his land. Having taken a blessing from the village elder, Zhu began to prepare for a hike to find like-minded people. One of the monks approached him and gave him his horse along with a box of Sky Lanterns. Zhu thanked the monk and asked what the lanterns might be used for. To which the sage replied: “The spirit of every warrior grows stronger and loses anxiety when launching a Sky Lantern. In addition, they will be useful to you to give a silent signal.”

No one remembers how Zhu managed to gather a large army and lead it. But he still used flashlights, just not as signaling instruments, but to distract attention. In the decisive battle, Zhu and his warriors launched all the lanterns into the sky. The enemy, seeing hundreds of lights in the sky, decided that Loy Krathong (the festival of lights) had come, all the warriors were distracted, watching the action in fascination. At this point, Zhong's army struck, winning. Later, Zhu Yuanjang created his own Ming Empire, which he ruled fairly for a long time.

This story has long lost its roots and turned into a beautiful legend. But some Buddhist monks claim that this whole story is true...

How to make a sky lantern with your own hands

Many have seen sky lantern festivals on TV. This spectacle looks simply mesmerizing. Many people have wondered how they can make such a flashlight with their own hands and how difficult it will be. In fact, its design is very simple and easy to manufacture.

You will need:

• Cigarette paper;
• Thin wire;
• Glue;
• Fire retardant solution;
• Wax;
• Paper towel;
• Bamboo hoop;
• Cardboard;

To prevent the flashlight from flashing when starting high temperature, it is necessary to treat the paper with a fire retardant solution. Tissue paper is used for sky lanterns. We hang the sheets on a rope and use a spray bottle to saturate the paper. After the sheets are dry, cut a small piece of paper and try burning it. If the paper catches fire, it is necessary to re-treat the sheets with fire protection.

Based on this sketch, we make a template from cardboard, from which we will later cut out fragments of the lantern from tissue paper.

Fold a sheet of tissue paper in half, apply the pattern and cut it out (leave a little space, about 1 centimeter, for gluing the fragments). In total you need to cut out four fragments.

We glue all parts of the sky lantern, place a small weight on the gluing points and leave the workpiece to dry for 2-3 hours.

Let's do the hoop. You can buy ready-made bamboo or make it yourself from small sticks, gluing them together. You can also use thin, stiff wire.

The sky lantern burner is made from paper towel and thin cardboard. Melt the wax in a water bath. Be sure to use a water bath, and not just in a pan on the stove (the wax may flare up)!!! Cut thin cardboard into squares and soak them in wax. Cut a ribbon from the towel and soak it in wax as well.

After the paper has dried, fold it like an accordion and place soaked squares of cardboard inside. Then we make four holes in the center through which we thread a thin wire. Leave the ends of the wire long enough to be attached to the hoop. Having attached the burner to the center of the hoop, glue it to the prepared paper bag.

At this point, making a sky lantern (Chinese) with your own hands is completed and the time has come for testing.

How to launch a sky lantern correctly (video instructions)

Well, here’s what happened as a result of our work.

Now you know how to make sky lanterns with your own hands.

Festivals held annually in different countries world is a fascinating spectacle in which absolutely everyone should definitely take part.

Based on materials from the site: blog.skylighter.com

Today it is fashionable to launch hand-made Chinese lanterns into the sky. The lights flying into the sky are a wonderful sight that both children and adults enjoy admiring. So where did this popular fun come from and what rules are important to follow to ensure the safety of others.

Story

For the first time, a Chinese paper lantern was mentioned in the chronicle description of the military campaigns of Zhuge Liang. This legendary Chinese general imitated the intervention of divine powers, instilling fear in his enemies. To do this, he used a paper bag and oil lamp. The rising cloud of light convinced opponents that higher power on the general's side.

The history of the mass distribution of glowing lanterns in Europe dates back to 2005. The reason was a tragic event: the 2004 earthquake in the Indian Ocean. A mass launch of glowing lanterns in Thailand became a memorial event for this tragedy and its victims. And thanks to the photograph of this event, which became a World Press Photo winner, the Chinese ritual became popular among Europeans.

Device

The Chinese flying lantern consists of the following elements:

• bamboo frame;
• a burner made of fuel-soaked fabric attached to a thin wire;
• dome made of rice paper impregnated with a non-flammable composition.

The shape of the product can be any - most often spherical or cylindrical.

Operating principle

Chinese sky lanterns easily soar into the sky, operating on the same principles as hot air balloons. Remember the Montgolfier brothers? Their invention is shells filled with hot smoke and capable of flying for kilometers. The fact is that due to heating, the air becomes lighter due to a decrease in density. Difference between density air masses inside and outside the shell and becomes the driving force.

That is why among the tips for launching flying lanterns you can often find the following: “in order to launch a lantern, choose a clear frosty night.”

Some characteristics

A traditional Chinese lantern has the following parameters:

• approximate weight from 50 to 100 g;
• height size from 70 to 170 cm;
• burning duration is about 20 minutes;
• diameter of the lower ring from 28 to 50 cm;
• The approximate possible lifting height is up to 500 m.

Is it possible to display Chinese lanterns in the city?

Unregulated launching of flashlights often leads to unpleasant consequences. Among them:

• fires, including forest fires;
• disabled power plants;
• death of livestock that accidentally ate a fallen wire frame;
• injury to animals.

Therefore, in some states there are bans associated with this beautiful and exciting event. Relevant regulations were also adopted in Russia.

Law prohibiting the launch of Chinese lanterns in Russia

In 2014, changes to the Fire Regulations were approved. In accordance with the document, structures that rise to a height by heating the air inside with the help of an open fire are prohibited from being allowed in cities, other settlements, or near forested areas. Lawyers warn: fines have been prescribed for violators, individuals These amounts are up to 1.5 thousand rubles, for legal entities – an order of magnitude higher.

Operational safety

But even in places where it is allowed to run flashlights, it is important to follow the rules that ensure the safety of others. Launching Chinese lanterns is allowed in open spaces where the location of the fall can be controlled. There should be no residential buildings nearby. You should not use flashlights in windy weather.

Responsible fans of launching sky lanterns recommend: use a small amount of fuel, this way you can control the crash site and can not only make sure it burns completely, but also clean up the debris.

Kinds

Chinese lanterns can vary in both shape and purpose. Often Chinese lanterns are used simply for decoration. Similar hanging options often decorate Asian cafes and restaurants, oriental shops. Glowing hearts can often be seen at wedding celebrations. And the simplest paper crafts will decorate your home for the New Year or another family holiday.

DIY Chinese lanterns made of paper

A Chinese lantern can be easily made at home. Teachers recommend: involve co-creation children, because they so love to participate in the creation of a fairy tale.

Option for children

The simplest craft, resembling a flashlight, was carved by almost everyone in childhood. To make it, you only need one sheet of colored paper, as well as scissors, glue, a ruler and a pencil as auxiliary materials.

The process consists of several short steps.

1. You need to cut a strip two centimeters wide from the sheet.
2. Fold the remaining piece in half.
3. Draw the workpiece: draw a horizontal line at a distance of 4 cm from the edge and from the fold draw many vertical lines to it, located at the same distance from each other.
4. Make cuts along vertical strips and unfold the sheet.
5. Glue the edge and attach a handle from the strip cut at the beginning on top.

According to all traditions

For such a hanging lantern you will need a template. You can find it on the Internet or draw it yourself. For the drawing you need to take a sheet with an aspect ratio of one to two. The long side is placed horizontally and three are drawn horizontal lines: one in the center and two at a short distance (the same) from the edges. Then they divide the sheet with vertical lines into six sectors and draw another line in the center of each sector. Circles with a diameter of approximately 2 cm are drawn around the points of intersection of the central vertical lines with the outer horizontal ones. Then rounded lines connect the center of the upper circle, the points of intersection of the vertical lines limiting the segment with the central horizontal ones, and the center of the lower circle.

As a result, the template should consist of six identical segments connected along the center line. A blank is cut out of it from red cardboard. Important note: the workpiece cannot be divided into segments!

Next, you need to connect the outer segments together. Then combine the lower circles, stitch them with red thread and decorate them with a tassel formed from threads. The same thing needs to be done with the upper circles, only instead of a tassel at the top we leave a thread by which the flashlight will be suspended.

sky lattern

To make a Chinese lantern you need a frame. It can be made from wooden fruit skewers wrapped in foil. As a simple fuel, you can use candle tablets or cotton wool soaked in alcohol. The candle or cotton wool is attached to the frame with metal wire.

The shell can be made as was traditionally done from rice or tissue paper. But on the Internet you often find another piece of advice: use a regular garbage bag for a flashlight.

Decor for products

It makes sense to decorate lanterns that are intended for decoration, not for launching. One of the decor options can be done as follows. Using a hole puncher, we make many, many (several dozen) holes on decorated paper. We glue the fallen circles onto the already made lantern according to the principle of husks. Important: the circles must be distributed evenly, making sure that the product is completely covered.

Today, anyone can make a Chinese paper lantern with their own hands. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a luminous object soaring into the sky or decor for interior decoration. The main thing is that ancient traditions are alive and doing daily life filled and beautiful.

Flying lanterns float across the night sky: very interesting, charming, romantic. Open fire heats the air in them according to the same principle as in balloons. First launched in China over 2,000 years ago, the first flying lanterns were constructed from bamboo rims with paper parts attached to them, creating the shape of a bag or cube. In the lower, open part, a fire source was fixed (most often a burning candle or a rag soaked in oil) and the hot atmosphere filled the lantern. As the flashlight cooled, it calmly descended back to the ground.

These handmade “night birds” still excite the imagination, appearing in paintings, books, movies and cartoons. Modern flying lanterns are very similar to their predecessors, only now they are safer thanks to the addition of a fire-resistant substance applied to the paper. And unlike in years past, many are writing messages or wishes on their lanterns before sending them off into the sky.

You will need:
— packaging of tissue (cosmetic, thin wrapping) paper of any color;
- any product that greatly increases the fire resistance of paper (for example, MP FR);
- clothesline;
- clothespins;
- glue;
— kraft paper;
- bamboo, 2.5 cm in diameter, approximately 122 cm in length;
- knife;
- sandpaper;
- wood glue;
- copper wire;
- thin staples;
- a square of thin cardboard, side - 5 cm;
- cotton ball;
— ethyl alcohol (from 70%);
- aluminium foil;
- duct tape.

1. Pin 4 sheets of tissue paper onto a clothesline and spray them with flame retardant, avoiding the very corners where the sheets are caught by clothespins. Let the paper dry completely.

2. Adhere each sheet of treated tissue/thin wrapping paper to a sheet of untreated tissue paper, overlapping lengthwise and using a thin, even layer of adhesive.

3. On craft paper, draw an image representing the top half of the mitten. The finished lantern will look like a hot air balloon made up of 4 pieces combined: make 4 of these “half-mittens” from kraft paper and tape them together. So that the lower flat edges of the half-mittens look down, and only they form together the open part of the flashlight: you will get a layout of your flashlight and will be able to adjust it where necessary. When you are completely satisfied with the design, remove the adhesive tape.

4. Using the kraft paper model as a reference, cut out the desired shape from the tissue paper, creating 4 slightly curved pieces with one straight edge. Glue the elements of the flashlight together, leaving, as in the point with the layout, only the edge at the bottom where the 4 parts have a straight edge is open: this is the lower part of the flashlight, where we will insert the burning element. Naturally, the sprayed side of each sheet of tissue paper should go inside the lantern.

5. Make a bamboo ring. Split the bamboo stick into thin strips by very carefully and slowly moving the knife down the length of the pole. Test the strips for flexibility by gently bending them with both hands. If you find one that is flexible enough, sand it sandpaper until completely smooth. Then make a rim from the finished strip and fix it at the joint with glue.

6. Install made from copper wire a suitable-sized letter “X” into the circle of the base of the lantern (into a bamboo ring), using thin staples, secure everything in place. Cover a cardboard square with foil and secure it in the center of the "X" with tape, staples, or glue.

7. Make a cup out of foil: large enough to hold the cotton ball, but not allow it to fall out. Glue the cup to the center of the stand.

8. Attach the previously made part of the lantern from the bottom (open part) to the stand circle using adhesive tape and remember: it works like a balloon, so the cup with foil should fit inside.

9. Carry a flashlight outside in the evening. Soak a cotton ball in ethyl alcohol(70% and above) and place the damp cotton wool in a foil bowl. Light the ball, carefully secure the bottom of the flashlight and hold the flashlight in your hands, ensuring the accumulation inside warm air. When the sides become hot and you begin to feel the flashlight slipping out of your palms, release it.

Additions and warnings:

— Garden pegs or poles can become good source bamboo;
— Coping with a flying flashlight is easier with a couple;

— When you develop the form hot air balloon, make sure that the upper part is certainly larger, more voluminous than the lower one;
- An alternative type of "fuel" can be made through immersion toilet paper into melted wax;
— A hoop made of copper wire can be attached to the top of the flashlight - it will provide the latter better shape;
— Never launch such lanterns on very windy days - there is a great risk of fire;
— When it rains, it’s simply not possible to run such a lantern;
- Remember that your flying flashlight is a potential fire hazard and you will be responsible for any damage it may cause.