Sky lanterns, also known as Kongming Lantern are airborne paper lanterns found in some Asian cultures. They are constructed from oiled rice paper on a bamboo frame, and contain a small candle or fuel cell composed of a waxy flammable material. When lit, the flame heats the air inside the lantern, thus lowering its density causing the lantern to rise into the air. The sky lantern is only airborne for as long as the flame stays alight, after which the lantern floats back to the ground.
According to popular lore, the Kongming Lantern was the first hot air balloon, said to be invented by the Chinese sage and military strategist Zhuge Liang, whose reverent term of address (i.e. Chinese style name) was Kongming. They were first deployed at the turn of the 3rd century as a type of signaling balloon or, it is claimed, as a type of spy blimp in warfare. Alternatively the name may come from the lantern’s resemblance to the hat Kongming is traditionally shown to be wearing.
It is likely that this technological discovery is misattributed because of the Chinese historical practice of attributing great discoveries to significant historical figures rather than to the actual inventors. According to the sinologist and historian of science Joseph Needham, the Chinese experimented with mini-hot air balloons from as early as the 3rd century BCE, during the Warring States period, which suggests that the attribution of its invention to Kongming is anachronistic and apocryphal.
In ancient China, sky lanterns were strategically used in wars. However later on, non-military applications were employed as they became popular with children at carnivals. These lanterns were subsequently incorporated into festivals like the Chinese Mid-Autumn and Lantern Festivals. Pingxi District in Taiwan holds an annual Lantern Festival in which sky lanterns are released.
Lanna (northern Thai) people use sky lanterns all year round, for celebrations and other special occasions. One very important festival in which sky lanterns are used is the Lanna festival known as ‘Yi Peng’ which is held on a full moon of the 2nd month of the Lanna calendar (‘Yi’ meaning ‘2nd’ and ‘Peng’ meaning ‘month’ in the Lanna language). Due to a difference between the old Lanna calendar and the traditional central Thai calendar it coincides with the annual Loi Krathong festival which is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar.
During the Yi Peng festival, a multitude of khom loi (Thai: ‘floating lanterns’) are launched into the air where they resemble large flocks of giant fluorescent jellyfish gracefully floating by through the sky. The most elaborate Yi Peng celebrations can be seen in Chiang Mai, the ancient capital of the former Lanna kingdom. It is considered good luck to release a sky lantern, and many Thais believe they are symbolic of problems and worries floating away. In recent times, khom loi have become so popular with all Thai people that it has become an integrated in to the Loi Krathong festival in the rest of country.
As sky lanterns contain a flame, there is the danger that they can cause a fire when landing on flammable ground. They can achieve quite a height and launching them in strong winds is not recommended. After the balloon lands, the leftover thin wire frame may present a hazard to any animal tempted to swallow it. It is illegal to launch a sky lantern in most parts of Germany, and in the remaining areas where use is technically legal, it is still necessary to obtain advance permission from local authorities. In 2010, wire-free lanterns were developed. Instead of metal, flame resistant wool is used which can be ingested without causing any harm to animals. However the lanterns are still potential fire hazards.
The Daily Omnivore 
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