The Lantern Lake Parade
In the snowy town of Lumijärvi, Finland, winter wasn't just a season—it was a way of life. Surrounded by frosty forests and frozen lakes, the long, dark nights were lit up by the northern lights and the glow of candles flickering in frosted windows. But even the most beautiful winters could feel a little too quiet sometimes, and this year, the townspeople longed for something special to bring everyone together.
That's when little Anni Alatalo, sitting at the dinner table one evening, made a simple observation. "It's so dark on the lake," she said, looking out at the frozen expanse beyond their house. "What if we made the lake glow?"
Her parents chuckled, but her grandmother, Mummo, nodded thoughtfully. "In the old days, we used to make ice lanterns," she said. "We'd set them along the paths to light the way for travelers. Maybe it's time we brought that tradition back—but bigger!"
Anni's eyes lit up. "We could make a parade!" she exclaimed. "Lanterns on sleds, lighting up the whole lake!"
The idea spread quickly through the village. Soon, it seemed everyone was talking about the Lantern Lake Luminary Parade. Families, friends, and neighbors began planning how they would contribute to the glowing procession.
Preparing the Lanterns
Making ice lanterns was a simple but magical process. Buckets were filled with water and left outside to freeze halfway through. The unfrozen water was poured out, leaving behind a shell of ice. A candle placed inside transformed each icy creation into a glowing masterpiece.
The real fun began when people started decorating their lanterns. Some carved patterns into the ice, like snowflakes or stars. Others added food coloring to the water, creating lanterns in shades of blue, green, and pink. Anni's family even froze pine branches and cranberries into their lanterns, giving them a festive look.
But the biggest challenge was figuring out how to transport the lanterns across the frozen lake. For this, the villagers turned to their beloved sleds. Some attached skis to old wooden boxes, while others built elaborate platforms for their lanterns. One particularly inventive teenager, Oskari, rigged up a sled powered by a wind sail, earning him the nickname "Snow Viking."
The Parade
On the night of the parade, the entire town gathered on the shore of the frozen lake. The northern lights shimmered faintly overhead, and the air was filled with the sound of laughter and crunching snow.
As the first lanterns were lit, a soft glow began to spread across the ice. The procession started slowly, with children pulling sleds, parents pushing prams filled with lanterns, and even the town's reindeer herder, Kari, leading a sled piled high with glowing ice sculptures.
Anni and her family joined in with their lanterns, carefully placed on a sled her father had decorated with birch branches. The glowing lights reflected on the icy surface, creating a magical pathway that stretched out into the darkness.
Halfway through the parade, Oskari unveiled his wind-powered sled. It zipped across the lake, trailing a string of tiny lanterns like a comet streaking through the night. The crowd cheered as he performed figure eights and loops, his lanterns casting shifting patterns on the snow.
A Night to Remember
When the parade reached the center of the lake, everyone gathered around to enjoy hot cocoa, steaming bowls of salmon soup, and Mummo's famous cardamom buns. The lanterns were arranged in a massive circle, their light dancing on the ice and illuminating the happy faces of the townspeople.
As they stood together, Anni looked up at her grandmother. "Did it look like this in the old days?" she asked.
"Not quite," Mummo replied with a smile. "This is even better."
From that night on, the Lantern Lake Luminary Parade became an annual tradition in Lumijärvi. Each year, the lanterns grew brighter, the designs more creative, and the community closer, proving that even in the coldest, darkest winters, a little light and togetherness could create something truly magical.
(This story is donated to the public domain.)
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He/Him/His
"Wisdom begins with wonder." - Socrates
"Learning happens thru gentleness."
"Wisdom begins with wonder." - Socrates
"Learning happens thru gentleness."
"We must reinvent a future free of blinders so that we can choose from real options." David Suzuki
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