Sky Lanterns

Origin

Pinghsi is located in a remote mountain area in Taipei County. During the rule of the Daoguang Emperor in the Ching Dynasty (1820-1850), settlers came from Fujian Province, the early residents developed the region diligently but were often the victims of robbery or murder because the access to the region was inconvenient at that time. Therefore, after the harvest season, the villagers lugged their belongings to the hills and hide, and before the Lantern Festival, the men would go down the hills to find out the situation in the village. They would send lanterns skyward to signal that all was at peace and beckon other villagers to go home. This brought the custom of launching sky lanterns, which is enriched later by providing an expression of prayers, and people believe that the higher the lanterns go, the more the heaven can hear their prayers.

Activities

The activity of launching sky lanterns is held on the night of the Lantern Festival. The sky lantern with the shape looking like a basket is constructed by the body covered with cotton papers, and the frame made from bamboo strips bending into circles and crisscrossed with wires. A wad of spirit money soaked with kerosene is attached to the wire in the middle of the lantern's bottom frame. When the lantern is lit and the air inside the lantern heats up, the lantern begins to rise, and it descends when the spirit money burns out. When groups of lanterns ascend to the dark sky, like countless twinkling stars, the beautiful and peaceful scene kindles people's hopes for the New year.