Hacker Speak

With Glastonbury approaching there is one specific 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 lanterns from the Stone Circle as their most powerful memory of the festival. If you do not directly launch one from the magical Stone Circle you are likely to witness their unearthly presence as they drift up and across the roaming Somerset countryside. It is no coincidence that the launching of the lanterns, with their connotations of serenity and hope, have become intrinsically linked with the Stone Circle. This field is where festival goers seek respite in the depths of the night, sitting and chatting communally around fires in the free 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 packed festival, oblivious to the chaotic crowds beneath them, up in to the sky and out of sight. Watching the sky lanterns take this journey in to the clouds is a pure moment to contemplate and escape. It is one of the reasons that in spite of its ever sprawling size, Glastonbury remains unparalleled.