In the season of fading light, when we sense the chill of winter yet to come, we yearn for the sun to linger. As its fading rays announce the arrival of longer nights and cooler days, we turn to man-made lights to push back the darkness.
The simple flick of a switch, and our spaces fill with light, albeit lacking the intense warmth of the fiery sun for which we long. It’s as old as man, this casting of light out into the darkness. To truly appreciate man-made light, one must remember that not so long ago there were no electric lights. Being able to see at night, except by the brightest full moon, was limited to candles, torches, and oil lamps.
A century ago, even with the largest lanterns or best interior oil lamps with their glass chimneys, the light emitted was marginal and easily extinguished. Our modern electric lights have overshadowed the reality that firelight continues to illuminate homes around the world. In fact, nearly three-quarters of the earth’s people still light by fire. So, let’s switch off the electricity for a bit and step back into time.
THE CANDLE
In the beginning was the candle. Even today, when electricity fails, candles reappear. It’s the simplest form of light; fuel and wick combined into a single element with no parts to break lose, easy to move, no bulbs to burn out or batteries to fail, and no fuel to pour. A 12-inch household candle will provide light for seven or eight hours. Its light pales in comparison to lamplight of course but it’s simple enough to gather several together to increase illumination.
So how does a candle burn? All waxes are essentially hydrocarbons, which means they are largely composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms. When you light a candle, the heat of the flame melts the wax nearest the wick. This liquid wax is then drawn up the wick by capillary action.
The heat of the flame vaporizes the liquid wax and starts to break down the hydrocarbons into molecules of hydrogen and carbon. These vaporized molecules are drawn up into the flame, where they react with oxygen from the air to create heat, light, water vapor, and carbon dioxide.
Approximately one-fourth of the energy created by a candle’s combustion is given off as heat as it radiates from the flame in all directions. Enough heat is created to radiate back and melt more wax to keep the combustion process going until the fuel is used up or the heat is eliminated.
But candles have their drawbacks. Besides their limited capacity to illuminate, drafts cause them to flicker and sputter; even a modest wind blows them out. Encased inside a lantern however, and they can light up a town.
THE LANTERN
Lanterns were first documented in ancient Greece and Rome. In China, lanterns came in a variety of forms -- paper, silk, animal hide, wood, and bamboo. Candles placed inside them provided the light source. Even today, the Chinese Lantern Festival marks the last day of the lunar New Year by floating paper lanterns skyward. Although candle lanterns were seen as far back as ancient Asia, we have Benjamin Franklin to thank for the traditional four-sided lantern so popular in this country.
Best known for being a statesman, diplomat, and the face on the US $100 bill, Franklin was foremost an inventor. He was also the postmaster of Philadelphia, and for this reason many regard Philadelphia as the birthplace of street lighting in the US. Colonial-era streetlights were illuminated by candles placed inside a glass vessel, which kept the candle from being blown out. Lamplighters ascended ladders at dusk to light each lamp, extinguishing them at dawn.
Franklin’s design was four-sided, with four individual panes of glass. If one pane of glass was broken, the lamp did not need to be entirely replaced and might even prevent the candle within it from being extinguished. It was an ingenious concept. Eventually, oil, then gas, and later still Edison’s electric light bulb would replace candles, but the four-sided design remained and is still the preferred shape for lanterns as we know them today.
Design motifs from Colonial eighteenth century have cycled in and out of American architecture for well over 100 years. Colonial lantern shapes with their simple design elements, whether used indoors or out, go with almost any period. Even folks who live in contemporary or extremely modern houses seem to prefer the tried and true looks of Colonial-era lanterns when it comes to decorating their spaces.
Simple frameworks of wood or metal and panes of glass radiate warmth and color, altering mood and biochemical reactions. A dark room seems cold, regardless of the season; flood the scene with light, your body feels warmer, and food tastes better. That’s why restaurants prefer candlelight to ambient lighting to create dining ambiance. But lanterns aren’t all about light. They have become an integral part of interior design, whether lit or unlit.
LANTERNS FOR ALL SEASONS
Walk into any craft or shop or big box home store, and one finds an assortment of Colonial-style lanterns, regardless the season. Simple yet elegant, they bring out the creativity in all of us. Displayed singly or in group, they add ambiance and sophistication to every room in the house. Used outdoors, they add sparkle and hospitality. Whether you use candles made of wax or the latest in remote- controlled LED luminaries, candles set inside lanterns add panache to any space.
Candles and lanterns are the very essence of the holiday season of course. Available in many sizes, colors, and materials, they are more than just a source of illumination. Not just inside the home, but outdoors as well. In any season, for any occasion -- holidays, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, parties — lanterns are the perfect mood makers.
Autumn
It’s autumn and stores and farmers markets come alive with tiny pumpkins, gourds, and Indian corn. Tuck battery-operated string lights in spooky colors inside and fill your lanterns with mounds of candy corn and tiny jack-o’-lanterns to delight the Halloween trick or treaters.
Celebrate the Thanksgiving harvest by filling your lanterns with brightly colored autumn leaves, berries and nuts, and all the goodness of a bountiful harvest. Grouped on your dining table, lanterns make a stunning centerpiece. Clustered on the porch, they welcome visitors to your front door.
Attach a swag of sunflowers or chrysanthemums wrapped with ribbons or raffia bows. Tuck a small scarecrow or cornucopia into a bed of straw inside a large lantern. Fall colored candles scented with apples or pumpkin pie fragrances can fool the nose into thinking you’ve baked all day. Beeswax candles are the ultimate luxury.
Christmas and the Solstice
Christmas and New Year’s bring out the very best in home decorating. Line your walk with tiny luminary lanterns. Group various sizes on your porch or on either side of your entry door. Instead of string lights, hang tiny lanterns from your eaves or balustrades. Place small lanterns inside your evergreen topiary pots or atop a row of boxwood.
Indoors, they can function as a mantelpiece, fill a sideboard with warmth, or just add some extra glow to corners of your house. Gather fresh greenery, berries, ornaments, and faux snow to create a festive mood. Cranberries and fresh cut juniper look stunning tucked around a white pillar candle. Spray faux snow over the lantern top and add a bright bow. Fill lanterns with glittered ornaments and watch the candle light sparkle.
After the holidays, chase away the gloom of winter by lighting lanterns at dusk to brighten up the kitchen, dining room, or den. Fill them with greenery, berries, pine cones, and tiny birds. Just as the Winter Solstice celebrates the end of shorter days, and the victory of light over darkness, lantern light banishes the dark and adds warmth to our spaces.
Valentine’s Day is the ultimate expression of romance, so why not fill your lanterns with hearts and roses, bows and chocolate kisses. Line small ones up around your tub for a relaxing winter’s soak, or fill your fireplace opening with several to create the look of burning embers. Pop the champagne and celebrate the occasion.
Spring
We often tend to stow away our lanterns when spring comes around, but why not celebrate the most beautiful time of year by filling our lanterns with fragrance and flowers? Weathermen consider March to be meteorologically spring, so bring on the shamrocks and green glitter for St. Patrick’s Day. Fill your lanterns with flowers. Easter lilies are the perfect expression of purity, or hide tiny Easter egg candies tucked into Easter basket grass for the kids to find. For whimsy, add a chocolate bunny or two.
Summer
We tend to forget about lanterns when the long days and heat of summer descend. But candles can do more than waft citronella to keep the mosquitoes at bay. Create your own fireworks displaying red, white, and blue lanterns with crisp white candles topped with matching bows to kick off the 4th of July.
You can create summery ocean-themed lantern decor by filling a lantern with sand, seashells, a starfish, and nautical hemp rope. Add a string of battery lights to brighten up the night or fill your lantern with polished pebbles or frosty sea glass that will help summer linger well past Labor Day.
There are so many creative ways to use lanterns indoors and out. We hope we’ve inspired you to give them a try. You are sure to find one that works with your home’s style, whether modern, farmhouse, classic, or transitional. With the strike of a match or flick of a remote, you have for the moment at least stepped back into time to enjoy the primal beauty of firelight.