The Red House Lantern Walk
On Thursday the 17th of November over 30 children and adults from nearby villages and the local Kirk Hammerton Playgroup came to Red House to take part in our annual Lantern Walk around the fields. The children are encouraged to create their own lanterns from jars, papier maché or any other suitable materials and then re-enact the search of St Martin. This tradition, which is more common in Germany, Holland and Belgium, is based on the story of a Roman soldier who, through his good deeds, became the people's choice to become bishop. He felt that he was not worthy for the position and so, when it was time to take up the role, he ran away and hid in a goose shed. The townspeople came searching for him in the night with lanterns and eventually found him when the noise from the geese gave him away. They led him away and he was made bishop and later canonised.
After the walk the children were invited into the Garden House for hot dogs, pizza and cake. As the night was so clear, we set up the estate telescope so the older ones could look at Jupiter. Five of the planet's moons could be clearly seen and also the stripey pattern of its atmosphere.
The picture is a montage of many long exposure photos of the lanterns in the procession. Also incorporated is an image of Jupiter taken from the telescope.