Paper lanterns are used often in the folk practices and holidays of the orient, especially in Japan. They can very in form from a simple square or bell shape to elaborate figural shapes representing animals, people or mythological creatures. During the Buddhist festival of Obon, which is celebrated throughout Asia, paper lanterns are placed by the graves of deceased relatives: a red one for a relative that passed away during previous years and a white one for the recently deceased. In Japan, there is also a practice of making toro nagashi, floating paper lanterns, and setting them adrift on calm water as a way of honoring their deceased relatives.
In recent years, Asian practices and culture have begun to have an influence on American culture, with paper lanterns and other Asian cultural artifacts becoming more familiar to the average American. In fact, floating paper lanterns are becoming a more common and beautiful addition to nighttime wedding receptions and garden parties that take place outdoors around water. These lanterns are available at many Asian import stores and Internet sites that sell Asian imports, but they can be easily made from common materials available from any craft shop.
First, a sturdy base is needed. Common Styrofoam is an easy material to use, and most craft stores and florists carry precut shapes of Styrofoam which can be used as a base for artificial floral arrangements. Dark colors such as dark green, if available, are better than plain white because they blend with the color of the water more closely when set adrift. Be sure to select a piece that is wide enough to allow a solid base for your lantern, so that it will not tip over with a breeze. Also, be sure that the base you are choosing is actually Styrofoam and not the green material that is used by many florists for live floral arrangements; the latter is manufactured to be highly absorbent and will certainly become water logged and sink if used as a base.
Next, some wooden dowels or heavy wire will be needed to help construct a frame. The easiest frame to build is the square, but with a little imagination, any sort of shape can be built using these basic steps. First, cut your dowels to the height you desire and plant them firmly in the Styrofoam block, one for each corner. Be sure to make the sides the same length. Also, be sure to leave plenty of room on the edges so that your lantern will not tip over when set adrift.
Next, use a bit of masking tape to affix some dowels across the top of the four corner dowels to form the four walls of your lantern. When the frame is built, use a glue stick to affix colored tissue paper or colored rice paper to the sides of the frame. When all four sides of the lantern are covered, use strips of paper to run along the inner lip of the lantern on the top. This will help hold some of the light in and still allow there to be a hole for the candle to “breathe.” Another possibility is to use bud lights that run on AA batteries. These are sometimes found at hardware stores for use lighting closets and cupboards. They give off a smooth soft light and also don’t require a hole in the top of the lantern for air.
When the lanterns are built and the lights inserted, simply set them adrift on a calm body of water and take in the beautiful sight as they meander about, gently guided by the breeze.
