Outdoor Paper Lanterns
Now that the warm summer evenings are almost here, you will most likely spent long periods outdoors entertaining friends and family. How about decorating your garden with gorgeous paper lanterns to lend a magical ambience to these occasions? Outdoor paper lanterns can be strung around the porch, the eaves, or even in the trees to create the traditional Far East look. In fact, some traditional paper lantern designs hold special symbolic significance for the Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese.
Where to buy
An online search will give you an idea of how easy it is to find authentic, handcrafted paper lanterns at stores that import Asian items, homewares suppliers and party decor stores. Most of these stores have a well-established online ordering system in place, so buying ought not to be a problem.
However, since a paper lantern is usually designed to be used without a light source, you need to carefully check whether the item of your choice can hold an electric light bulb, for instance. Also, bear in mind that outdoor paper lanterns are built using a wide range of framing materials, including traditional wood or bamboo or the more modern steel wire. Most are designed so that they can be easily collapsed for storage or shipping. However, not all frames may be heat-resistant and may require additional maintenance that you need to be aware of.
Your choices
Balloons, stars, flowers, fish and pumpkin are very popular shapes for paper lanterns, but there are numerous others to choose from. As we said earlier, many paper lantern shapes and designs hold a traditional symbolic meaning. For example, the Chinese believe that fish shapes bring good luck, while Zen philosophy holds that the lotus flower signifies living in the moment.
Finally, for the creative and the gifted, it is easy to make paper lanterns at home, even those which can support a light source. The Internet once again offers a host of guides and DIY projects that may teach you to create beautiful and elegant outdoor paper lanterns, so start your search now.
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