How to make an ice lantern?

You need:

• - frost
• - bucket
• - candle
• - water
• - colouring (additional)

1. Take a bucket (plastic is best) and fill it 4/5 with water. You can colour the water with food colours, water colours etc. if you wish.
2. Wait for a proper frost. More than ten minus is recommended. Set the bucketful of water outdoors and check it every now and then. The water should be almost thoroughly frozen. In minus 25 it takes one night, in minus 10 it takes more than a day.
3. Turn the bucket upside down. If the ice sticks, pour some hot water on the bucket.
4. Make a hole to the thin bottom of the ice (a chisel is a good choice for doing that) and pour out the water.
5. Set a burning candle into the hollow ice lantern.

Making ice lanterns is a traditional thing to do in wintertime in Finland. Different coloured candles cast a different colour. Some decorate the lanterns with green twigs, even roses.

If the climate change turns the Finnish winters mild, the tradition of making ice lanterns will be gone.