Chinese Sky Lanterns Chinese Lanterns or "sky lanterns" have been used to mark special occasions for many years now. It has become increasingly popular to use chinese lanterns for weddings, birthdays, parties and many different celebrations. Recently, there have been reports that have blamed chinese lanterns for the cause of several fires in the United Kingdom, damage to property and distress to wildlife. Due to the dangers associated with some of the lanterns, several countries have actually banned their use, including Germany and Austria, with other countries set to follow suit.