From Baby's Bottom to Buddha's Gastronomy - Paper Lanterns in Asian Culture

Today, the popularity of paper lanterns is at peek and so you would get to see paper lanterns just about anywhere. It is being used as a very popular way of decorating all around the world. The origination of these lanterns is from the Asian culture. More precisely, from the ancient Chinese and Japanese cultures. There are many stories that narrate the reasons and origin of lighting these lanterns. Even today there are many Asian countries like China, Malaysia, Japan, and Singapore which celebrate the lantern Festival. The well-known Chinese New Year celebration which lasts for 15 days ends with a Lantern festival.

Festive and other uses of lanterns:

Yes, it is true that during festive seasons, no matter which country it is or which culture it is you can find the use of lanterns done for decoration. Take Christmas for instance and you would find most of them making use of the baby's bottom lanterns to decorate even in US. There are many parts of Europe as well where one can see the use of lanterns.

Now, don't be mistaken that these lanterns are festival specific. There are many commercial outlets which hang out giant lanterns commonly referred as the Buddha's gastronomy not just as a part of decoration but also as a form of attraction and advertise.

Simple classification as per the Asian culture:

This classification of the lanterns is as per the Asian culture or to be precise as per the Chinese culture. There are five classes which start from the petit baby's bottom, the tall and tubular rolling paper, the geometrical shaped crystal magic, the spherical tomato light or big red and the last one is the giant ones the Buddha's gastronomy.

The crystal magic lantern covers all the geometrical shapes and also other creative and unique designs like the star, the beehive etc. The big red lantern has been popular with people all over the world.

Lanterns for interior and exterior decoration:

There are many types of paper lanterns that are used as means of lighting as well as a part of the interior decoration. The elegance of these lamps adds a charisma to the other work done in the house or any interior work. For interiors the use of the big red that is the spherical mid sized lanterns is very popular.

The lanterns that fall under baby's bottom lantern, the crystal magic lantern and the big red lantern categories are more used for in-house decorations. Whereas, the large rolling paper lantern are quite often used outside the commercial outlets and the giant Buddha's gastronomy lantern is seen outside temples.

Soft and pacifying glow:

Though, the basic purpose of these lanterns is to illuminate when they were actually put to use in ancient times but with time these lanterns became more of an ornament for decoration. The silky and pacifying light that it spreads makes the environment very soothing. And, this is exactly what makes it more appealing to people and are commonly suggested to be used during outside parties, restaurants and for home decoration. These gorgeous lanterns look all the more attractive when illuminated adding up glamour to the environment. Paper lanterns are certainly the most preferred and elegant forms of decorations used.