Raise the Red Lantern, a Chinese film, prominently features lanterns as a motif. Palace lantern in the night sky of Lijiang, YunnanThe ancient Chinese sometimes captured fireflies in transparent or semi-transparent containers and used them as (short-term) lanterns. Modern varieties often place an electric light in a decorative glass case. Paper lanterns are made in societies around the world. Some hang from buildings, while others are placed on or just above the ground. Before the development of glass sheets, animal horn scraped thin and flattened was used as the translucent window.Decorative lanterns exist in a wide range of designs. Examples are glass-pane enclosed street lights, or the housing for the top lamp and lens section of a lighthouse.The term is commonly associated with Chinese paper lanterns.Contents1 History2 Modern fueled lanterns3 Modern electric lanterns3.1 Lighting fixtures3.2 Battery powered lanterns3.2.1 LEDs4 Gallery5 See also6 ReferencesHistory 15th-century candle lantern from Germany Traditional street lantern in the Old Town of Tallinn, EstoniaThe word 'lantern' comes via French from Latin 'lanterna', possibly itself derived from Greek.Lanterns, some using a wick in oil, others essentially protected candle-holders, have been used functionally, for light rather than decoration, since antiquity.
The term 'lantern' is also used more generically to mean a light source, or the enclosure for a light source. Low-light level varieties can function as decoration, and can be a variety of colours and sizes.
The term used was 'lanthorn', believed to be due to popular etymology, from the early use of horn windows.Lanterns may also be used for signaling, as torches, or as general light-sources outdoors. Use of unguarded lights was taken so seriously that obligatory use of lanterns, rather than unprotected flames, below decks was written into one of the few known remaining examples of a pirate code, on pain of severe punishment (article VI of Captain John Phillips's articles). This was especially important below deck on ships: a fire on a wooden ship was a major catastrophe. Though primarily used to prevent a burning candle or wick being extinguished from wind, rain or other causes, another important function was to reduce the risk of fire should a spark leap from the flame or the light be dropped.
Windows of some translucent material would be fitted in the sides, now usually glass or plastic but formerly thin sheets of animal horn, or tinplate punched with holes or decorative patterns though some antique lanterns have only a metal grid, clearly indicating their function was that outlined below.