Glastonbury & Sky Lanterns
With Glastonbury 2009 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 lanterns from the Stone Circle as their enduring memory of the festival. If you do not directly release one from the magical Stone Circle you are likely to witness their unearthly presence as they drift up and across the open Somerset countryside. It is no surprise that the use of the lanterns, with their connotations of peace and , have become intrinsically connected with the Stone Circle. This field is where festival goers seek respite in the dark of the night, sitting around and chatting together around fires in the open 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 float across the vast festival, oblivious to the frenzied 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 divine moment to ponder and escape. It is one of the reasons that despite its ever sprawling size, Glastonbury remains unrivalled.
