Drawing by Keira He
A popular Chinese tradition is releasing floating lanterns into the night sky. In order to bring good fortune, one can write a wish on the “sky lantern” and send it off into the air. Similar to a hot air balloon, a candle heats the air inside the lantern, enabling it to float. Popular wishes include 身体健康 (shēntǐ jiànkāng) for good health, 步步高昇 (bù bù gāoshēng) for progress, and 心想事成 (xīn xiǎng shì chén) for wishes to come true. Although there are many occasions in which people can participate in this tradition, the tradition is kept alive during the Lantern Festival or 元宵节 (Yuánxiāo jié), which falls on the 15th day of each lunar year.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lantern-Festival
https://www.thoughtco.com/chinese-new-year-lantern-wishes-688197
https://weddingdaysparklers.com/why-do-people-release-sky-lanterns/#:~:text=The%20reason%20why%20people%20release,blow%20away%20in%20the%20wind.