Celebrations & Uses

Globe ice lanterns fit nicely into the traditions surrounding the many winter holidays, especially those which use candles to symbolize light or the return of the sun—Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Christmas, Yule, Diwali, Yalda and Kwanzaa, to name a few. Globe ice lanterns can also make beautiful and thoughtful "ice candle" memorials.

OUTSIDE DISPLAYS

When displaying a globe ice lantern OUTSIDE, if you want them to last, it is best to place them in the shade and/or where melting ice will not create a safety hazard. If they are placed in the sun, they will slowly shrink during cold temps, but they will become sun-etched and look even more beautiful! And, when they have been well used, you can make more . . .

Globe ice lanterns can be placed on any surface that will tolerate water and cold—cement, grass, ice or snow. The issue of air flow also needs to be addressed—too much air and the candle might blow out, too little and the flame will die. Candles, faux candles, LED, or little white lights can be used to light the lanterns.

Ideas for displaying globe ice lanterns outside:

• Line the walkway or the entry way of a home, place of worship, event or business with multiple globes of any size. With multiples, smaller lanterns (size of a soccer ball) make more sense. I generally save the big lanterns (bigger than a soccer ball) for dramatic focal points.
• Place a globe ice lantern in the middle of a ring of winter greens that is lying flat on the ground—I like to picture a very large egg sitting in a nest.
• For Chanukah (Hanukkah), create a Menorah (Hanukia) using 8 smaller globe ice lanterns and one larger lantern for the shamash.
• Place a globe ice lantern in a large flower pot filled with greens.
• Place a globe ice lantern on top of a upside-down bucket to add height.
• A more dramatic way to add height is to place a globe ice lantern on a bucket-style ice lantern. It is possible to put a candle in both the globe ice lantern and the bucket lantern, but it might be easier if you fill the bucket lantern with a string of little white lights or LED lights.
• Freeze globe ice lanterns to the top of pillars/posts on a deck or patio. (If the deck is high off the ground, make sure that they are well frozen onto the pillars if there is no chance of their falling.)
• Place a larger globe on a diving board for an evening summer fête. It will gently dripped into the pool as it melts and create a charming and unique focal point for the pool area.

INDOOR DISPLAYS

To make a simple indoor display with common household items, use a tiered cake plate inside a large bowl. The globe ice lantern sits on the cake plate and drips into the bowl- works like a charm!

If you are going to use an ice lantern in a centerpiece for a special event, please:

• Make your globe ice lanterns well ahead of time and make more than you need.
• Consider making them small (the size of a soccer ball) as centerpieces are best kept low so sightlines stay open.
• Test ahead of time! Experiment with globe sizes and ice thicknesses in your drip tray arrangement to insure that they will stay beautiful for the length of the event and the bowl does not overflow!

Here are a few indoor display ideas:

• Put a globe ice lantern on a tall tiered cake plate that is inside a punch bowl. Fill the punch bowl with flowers and/or greens.
• To create long-burning, romantic night light, put a sun-etched globe ice lantern on a shorter tiered cake plate inside a punch bowl and turn down the lights. All the cracks and imperfections are cast up on the ceiling in a wonderful display—like stars in the sky.
• Place an ice lantern on a flower pot filled with dirt and/or moisture absorbing pellets. The melting ice will be absorbed by the dry-dirt mixture.
• Place a globe ice lantern in a dark bathtub or an extra sink during a gathering for a fun surprise.

With globe ice lanterns you are only limited by your imagination. As long as the melting ice has a place to go, an ice lantern can be put on display indoors with stunning results!