English Corpus

With another Glastonbury approaching there is one unusual product that comes to mind, sky lanterns. They have, in recent years, become an integral part of any Glastonbury-goers experience. In an interview last year the headliner’s, Kings of Leon, cited the release of sky lanterns from the Stone Circle as their enduring memory of the festival. If you do not directly release one from the mystical Stone Circle you are likely to witness their apparitional presence as they drift up and across the open Somerset countryside. It is no surprise that the launching of the lanterns, with their connotations of peace and , have become intrinsically connected with the Stone Circle. This area is where festival goers seek respite in the dark of the night, sitting and chatting communally around fires in the open spirit that remains at the heart of the festival. As is traditional with sky lanterns, a wish is made with each one released. It is a close to numinous experience to watch from the hillside of the Circle as the wishes float across the vast festival, oblivious to the frantic crowds beneath them, up in to the sky and out of view. Watching the sky lanterns take this journey in to the clouds is a divine moment to contemplate and escape. It is one of the reasons that in spite of its ever sprawling size, Glastonbury remains unparalleled.