These are just some of the messages participants wrote on their water lanterns before taking a moment to reflect and then placing them in Coe Lake in Berea at the Cleveland Water Lantern Festival on Saturday, August 24.
Water lanterns are an ancient tradition in Asian cultures. For centuries they have been used to worship gods, ward off evil, and guide the souls of the deceased in the afterlife. In modern times, many Western cultures have adopted the water lantern ritual for healing and reflection.
A ticket to the Cleveland Water Lantern Festival came with a goodie bag, including socialization tools like a scavenger hunt to find people and a deck of “conversation cards,” as well as a kit to design and build your own water lantern. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal ClevelandAmong the vendors selling their wares at the Water Lantern Festival was Charlena Robertson with her handmade soaps. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal ClevelandTonya Burton (left) and Kristen Doty (right) with their finished lanterns. Doty said her lantern has all Avengers-related designs because she’s “kind of a nerd.” Burton wrote a message to Husney Landscaping, where she worked for 17 years, thanking them for their support during difficult times and saying they went “above and beyond” for her. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal ClevelandSusan Friedell, Katherine Friedell and Yan Maschke (left to right) at the Water Lantern Festival. Katherine Friedell said she designed her lantern script based on her hopes for the future of women’s reproductive rights. Maschke wrote a message to her husband saying she wanted them to “grow old together with dignity.” Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal ClevelandRina Smith (center) of Cleveland wrote notes on her lantern, which she called “just little updates” for deceased family members and friends, “things I’ve done since they died.” Linda Smith (left) and Araya Robinson (right) also wrote to deceased relatives and pets. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal ClevelandAug. 24 is also Jennifer Robinson’s birthday. The Brook Park native, pictured here lighting her lantern, said she invited all of her friends who have also lost a parent to join her in the event at Coe Lake, adding that it has special meaning for her: “Mom and dad loved this place. My dad used to love coming here to fish. I have a lot of memories here.” Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal ClevelandParticipants in the Water Lantern Festival begin lighting their lanterns as the sky darkens. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal ClevelandGuest speakers addressed the crowd and shared their personal stories of loss, healing and triumph. Some spoke of recovering from trauma or substance abuse. Others said they came as part of a spiritual journey or to celebrate recent successes. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal ClevelandHere is my lantern. On one side was a note to my parents, on the other a not so great drawing of the earth and a reminder of something I am proud of.
Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal Cleveland
Josh, who was at the festival with his girlfriend Delaney (both from Akron), wrote her a message on his lantern. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal ClevelandLanterns designed by participants in support of Palestine will be floated on the water. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal ClevelandOnly a few of the hundreds of lanterns floated on Coe Lake. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal ClevelandParticipants watch the sea of lanterns float out into Coe Lake. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal ClevelandJad Oglesby (left) and Meha Srivastava (right), both students in Cleveland, used their lanterns as tools for reflection. Oglesby said he reflected on his summer and looked to the future. Srivastava drew pictures on her lantern to express her thoughts about the state of the world. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal ClevelandParticipants watch in the darkness as the water lanterns float out onto Coe Lake. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal Cleveland
Audio producer (she/her) I create audio stories designed to engage and inform people in ways that go beyond media stereotypes. I want to build trust between local media and the community and teach people “how” to think about life in Cleveland, not “what” to think.
