Sky Lanterns Take off at Glastonbury
With Glastonbury Festival approaching there is one specific product that comes to mind, sky lanterns. They have, in recent years, become an integral part of any Glastonbury-goers experience. In an interview last year the headliner’s, Kings of Leon, cited the release of sky lanterns from the Stone Circle as their most powerful memory of the festival. If you do not directly release one from the tranquil Stone Circle you are likely to witness their ghostly presence as they drift up and across the roaming Somerset countryside. It is no surprise that the launching of the lanterns, with their connotations of serenity and hope, have become intrinsically linked with the Stone Circle. This area is where festival goers seek respite in the depths of the night, sitting around and talking 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 manic crowds beneath them, up in to the sky and out of view. Watching the sky lanterns take this journey in to the clouds is a pure moment to ponder and escape. It is one of the reasons that in spite of its ever sprawling size, Glastonbury remains unrivalled.
