Sky Lantern Phenomenon
With Glastonbury Festival approaching there is one unusual product that comes to mind, sky lanterns. They have, in recent years, become an integral part of any Glasto-goers experience. In an interview in 2008 the headliner’s, Kings of Leon, cited the release of lanterns from the Stone Circle as their enduring memory of the festival. If you do not directly release one from the mystical Stone Circle you are likely to witness their magical presence as they drift up and across the rolling Somerset farm land. It is no surprise that the use of the lanterns, with their connotations of peace and optimism, have become intrinsically associated with the Stone Circle. This field is where festival goers seek rest in the dark of the night, sitting around and chatting communally around fires in the trusting spirit that remains at the heart of the festival. As is traditional with sky lanterns, a wish is made with each one released. It is a close to numinous experience to watch from the hillside of the Circle as the wishes rise across the packed festival, oblivious to the frantic crowds beneath them, up in to the sky and out of sight. Watching the sky lanterns take this journey in to the clouds is a pure moment to reflect and escape. It is one of the reasons that despite its ever sprawling size, Glastonbury remains unequaled.