A group of partying Buddhist friends near Asheville NC have the greatest celebration every year around this time called the "Dark Night Festival". It is based loosely on several Eastern traditions of Lantern lightings with varying myths and traditions, many associated with the end of the Chinese New Year's celebrations. This party also usually corresponds with the end of Mardi Gras and the beginning of Lent. The lanterns in old tradition were lit and sent floating into the winter night to let families and friends know that even though everyone was held up inside by winter cold and snow, they were OK. You wrote a message to your family and friends on the lanterns so they could retrieve them and read your message once they burned out and fell to earth. In some traditions, the message on the lanterns are for deceased friends or family members, sent forth to the heavens. The lanterns are also a way to pay respect to the higher beings that were responsible for the return of the light, giving hope of a coming Spring renewal. At this party your invitation includes a folded paper "lantern". You write or draw whatever you wish on your lantern, bringing it with you to the party where you light a candle from the Unity candle and then your personalized lantern is set afloat on a waxed cardboard "boat" on a nearby pond. The tradition changed from air to the pond to avoid the hazards of forest fires. Lots of oysters are eaten and all is well on a cold, would have been dark, winter's night.
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