A. HISTORY
Tradition says that “sky lantern” was invented during the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-265) by  huge Liang. At first it was used to transmit military information, different from beacon towers yet ingeniously serving the same function, and is now generally recognized as the earliest ancestor to the hot air balloon. In the early 19th century, the Lantern Festival was brought to Taiwan, where every year, at the beginning of the spring planting season, people would release “sky lanterns” into the air as a prayer for the coming year. Because in olden times marriage was for the purpose of “adding a son” and increasing manpower, people went to the temple to pray for blessings and released sky lanterns on which they had written things like “May a son soon be born.” and “May the harvests be bountiful”. Historically, sky lanterns were also released as a signal telling those hiding in the mountains from ransacking marauders that it was now safe to return to their villages. The practice originated from the traditions of settlers who came to Pingxi from the Minnan (southern) region of China during the Qing Dynasty. At the end of the 20th century, as people began to value and respect local cultural traditions, the practice of releasing sky lanterns was turned into an annual celebratory event for the lantern festival, held on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar. Sky lanterns were released to follow the wind, rising up to the ancestors to report that all was well and to pray for blessings. Slowly this evolved to become a local event for the Yuan Xiao Festival in the Pingxi area. Incorporating local history, religion, and culture, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is a classic example of a regional festival that developed and spread into a nation-wide celebration.
B. PINGXI SKY LANTERN FESTIVAL
Through many years of changes, the one thing that never changed was the reflected lives and hopes of the people as the sky lanterns slowly rose aloft. For many years the “Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival” has had a brilliant history. In addition to enjoying its reputation as part of the traditional description of this Yuan Xiao or Lantern Festival in Taiwan—“Sky lanterns in the north, beehive fireworks in the south.” —the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival was voted by the Discovery Channel as the second biggest New Year’s Eve celebration in the world, a festival whose sky lanterns carry the prayers and vows of the people and by which they seek the purification of their souls, a festival that advertises the Taiwan spirit to the world. In addition to the folk performances, lantern riddle contests, and street folk carnivals that are organized every year, the sky lanterns carrying prayers aloft remain the focal point of the entire event. The lanterns are lit, hopes slowly rise, and the flames of prayer dance in the air as the lanterns magically transform into wings of hope and desire, turning the night sky of this mountain town into an expanse of unimaginable beauty. The visual enjoyment of his fantastic and magnificent sight transcends cultural barriers so when festival time arrives each year, Pingxi is always overwhelmed with visitors. The sight of sky lanterns with their lights rising slowing into the sky is for many Taiwanese a beautiful memory and the beginning of happiness and dreams.
Here is an important steps when releasing the lantern:
1. Check the lantern for any external damage; the lantern cannot fly if the heated air leaks out.
2. Write your wish on the lantern.
3. Take a piece of oil-soaked joss paper and hook it to the wire piece at the bottom of the lantern.
4. Gently pull open the lantern so that all four upper corners are fully open and level; someone should also hold the lantern in position at the bottom to be sure enough heated air enters the lantern to push it upwards. Light the joss paper and wait until hot air fills and expands the lantern before releasing it. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is held every year on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar.
The festival lasts approximately one week, with multiple locations for releasing sky lanterns approved by the New Taipei City government. Restrictions on release times and other relevant regulations are posted at the locations.