The idea of letting a lantern fly up into the midnight sky, glowing orange and yellow and watching it fly away is a very pleasing aesthetic. Of course, this is why so many people enjoy the visually awe-bringing scene in "Tangled"; "I See The Light."

Please, see the light in that movie, and in the movies only. Sky Lanterns are not good for the environment.

The manufacturers of the product assure buyers that the product is biodegradable, and the paper will disintegrate in a matter of days. The wire support in the center, however, can take up to nine months to disintegrate. Sure, biodegradable automatically gives the impression that a product is making our environment a cleaner and more efficient place, but when we release metal wires into the sky and let them sit on the soil for up to nine months, we must recognize that this can have a cost globally.

In fact, by contacting officials and leading associates of numerous lantern producing companies, researchers such as Leo Hickman were astounded to find out that the associates had no recollection of where they were getting the supplies from. That being said, they had assured that the product was biodegradable and safe, however, most did not even know where and how the product was manufactured, and what materials were used within it.

If the companies themselves don’t recollect what their products are made from and where they come from, why should we trust that they are safe for our earth?

As well as that little complication, if a lantern is weak and makes its way to the ground earlier, it could set fire to the ground, and kill numerous environmental habitats and the species that live within them. With such environmentally fragile conditions within this decade, it is important to let go of frivolous and irresponsible activities such as these.

Want more inspiration? Here are some animals that live in the woods for you to admire:

... and many more, such as rabbits, squirrels, owls, hedgehogs, foxes, and more.

The fact of the matter is this; putting any substance of fire into the sky that is not a star, and that is not above the stratosphere is probably a bad idea. Any substance thrown on the ground that isn't dirt or soil should not be on the ground, and we shouldn’t allow a label such as “biodegradable” to obstruct the fact that throwing it into the environment is still littering.

So please, if you’re thinking of heading over to lantern fest, please, just watch Tangled instead.