Orb lighting used at Arrington Vineyards in Arrington, TN.

According to the ancient tradition of the Chinese New Year, 2014 is the year of the horse which officially began on January 31st. The Chinese New Year is an important traditional Chinese holiday celebrated at the turn of the Chinese calendar. In China, it is also known as the Spring Festival. These celebrations traditionally run from Chinese New Year’s Eve, the last day of the last month of the Chinese calendar, to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month, making the festival the longest in the Chinese calendar. Because the Chinese calendar is lunisolar, the Chinese New Year is often referred to as the “Lunar New Year.”

Chinese New Year lasts two weeks and is traditionally a time to honor ancestors and Chinese traditions. The centuries-old celebrations end with the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the New Year. As part of this celebration, paper lanterns are hung. The lanterns are generally red in color and tend to be oval in shape. These are considered the traditional Chinese paper lanterns. Other lanterns used on the fifteenth day of the Chinese New Year during the Lantern Festival, are bright, colorful, and come in a wide array of different sizes and shapes.

History of the paper lantern

Paper lanterns are special kind of lanterns that originate from China and Japan. They are usually made from paper or silk, with the frames being made from bamboo or wood. A lit candle placed inside is used as the source of light. Modern paper lanterns have battery-operated lamps. Traditional paper lanterns were made in the image of myths, things from nature and or in the spirit of local culture. The lanterns symbolize joy, celebration, good fortune and longevity. Data indicates the creation of paper lantern started in China somewhere in 230 BC.

Permanent festival lighting, such as orb lighting, also comes in a host of colors.

The design of the paper lanterns used in honor of this tradition is not that far off from the concept of certain genres of outdoor lighting commonly used year-round. These applications exude soft washes of light much like that of the paper lanterns used during the Chinese New Year. The first outdoor lighting application that comes to mind when envisioning the use of outdoor lanterns is permanent orb lighting, or pendant lighting. Here at Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Nashville, this type of lighting is gaining in popularity because of not only the soft, romantic light it exudes, but also the unique and distinctive beauty it can add to an outdoor space.

Orb and pendant lighting used in outdoor lighting applications 

Orb lighting lends an ethereal quality to any outdoor area where installed. They give the appearance of being “free-floating”, much like that of a paper lantern. These lights come in 10″, 12″ and 16″ and are available in white, colored and clear acrylic. The effect these lights impose on a setting is stunning. Though these lights are contemporary in design they look great in both rural and urban themed settings. We recently installed orb lighting at Arrington Vineyards in Arrington, TN. The addition of orb lighting has made this already magical property enchanting in the evening under the spell of this unique lighting technique. The effect these lights create in any outdoor setting is stunning. Orb lighting promotes a carefree ambiance when strung in trees along a gathering or picnic area, or when used  to breathe new life into a dark spot within the landscape; they make any outdoor space warm and inviting.

Orb lighting by Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Nashville at Arrington Vineyards. Picture provided by Nash Severance Photography

At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Nashvlle we are dedicated to to conveying  mood and effect through our outdoor lighting designs. Permanent festival lighting, such as orb lighting, is unique way we are able to enliven the senses through outdoor lighting. Orb lighting delivers many of the same benefits as that of lighting used in traditional age-old celebrations to harness joy and celebration with lighting. These lights would also be perfect in temporary lighting applications but we are certain you will be so enamored by them you may decide to leave them up year round!

John Groce Outdoor Lighting Perspectives Nashville

If you are interested in having permanent festival lighting installed at your residence or place of business Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Nashville today to learn more. Call (615) 373 – 0638
Email: olpnashville@outdoorlights.com

Please visit our extensive outdoor lighting galleries including our landscape lighting gallery located on our website for more unique and inspiring designs.