Our History of Lantern Making!

When we started the JPLP in 1984, we made lanterns by finger painting on paper, which after it dried, we would coat with vegetable oil to make it translucent. The base and candle holder were made from card board.

All together a rather flammable design and when we published our “how to make a lantern instructions’ in the JP Citizen a very alert person notified the Fire Department! Would that be the end of using candles? Not yet!

Somebody had shown up at the Parade with a (3L) recycled plastic bottle covered with tissue paper!

We decided to switch to this new design with a material that would not ignite (only melt when too close to the candle flame). 

For several years we collected many used bottles from a recycle deposit place on Green St. 

When that source disappeared, we found a supermarket in Dorchester that would save the bottles for us!

However, after a few years the stores installed shredders for the bottle recycling and that ended our source at that time!

We looked for a source where bottles were produced and a company in New Hampshire was willing to donate a van full of 3-L bottles, for several years.

When that factory closed down, a company in Western MA. began a donation of thousands of bottles a year and continued to do so since 1995, when we first opened our building. Thanks so much PlastiPak!

However, in 2022, we found out that the company no longer produces the 3L bottles, and we have not found a new source!

For some time people had commented on ‘the use of new plastic’ not being ‘environmental’ and we may have agreed -except  - it was so easy and free!

This year let’s see how we can go back to using truly recycled material, while exploring alternative lighting sources as well.

We look forward to seeing the many new creations that people will come up with!

Please check the “Lantern Parade 2022” page to see the schedule for lantern making opportunities! 

We need all the help we can get!