Glowing lanterns floated in the Arrington Lagoon on Tuesday evening in a ceremony to recognize the community’s many losses in the past two years while uplifting the spirits and heritage of many those who came to celebrate culture.
“May these lanterns that we light be a blessing, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, to the ability for us to continue to go on but not unchanged, not unmarked, not unmarred,” said the Rev. Michael Woolf of Lake Street Church of Evanston to the crowd gathered at the lagoon.
The lanterns also showcased Evanston’s multi-generational artistic talent, as each one bore images and words drawn by many community members.
The water lanterns, which first appeared in the Han dynasty in China, are a symbol of sending away problems and losses and saying good-bye to disasters, while welcoming happiness and peace into your lives, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Kids Create Change, the nonprofit that organized the event, coordinated several lantern-making workshops earlier this month where community members decorated and constructed the lanterns. For those who did not attend a workshop, organizers also set up a decorating station at Arrington Lagoon.
Arleigh and her father Patrick Nowlan light a lantern. Credit: Adina Keeling 
Randy Rodriguez, Minh Le and their daughter Chloe prepare to launch their lantern. Credit: Adina Keeling 
Zofia Piela-Woolf holds up her lantern. She is sitting beside her father, Rev. Dr. Michael Woolf. Credit: Adina Keeling 
The Fisher family shows off their collection of lanterns. Pictured here, from left to right: Leo Fisher, Jordan Fisher, and Ellen Fisher Credit: Adina Keeling 
Zoe Yang finishes decorating a luminary at the Arrington Lagoon. Credit: Richard Cahan
“Today is the last day of Asian South Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, so we are celebrating that as well,” said Melissa Raman Molitor, one of the organizers. She said the ceremony was inspired by the many lantern festivals celebrated throughout Asia.
Karly Kaihara attended the ceremony with her family. She decorated the four sides of her lantern with a drawing of a family tree, a piano, a heart and an inscription with her Japanese name.
Her father, Glen Kaihara, said the family attended a similar ceremony in Lincoln Park two years ago, and Karly was eager to decorate and light another lantern. “She loves art,” he said.
“To be human is to be here in a community, and that’s the most important thing that we can do in this season of loss,” said Woolf.
Fabulous! Our community continued to thrive.