Traditions by country
| Tradition | When | How |
|---|---|---|
| Korea, Jeongwol Daeboreum | 15th day of the first lunar month (February 21, 2027) | Wish on the first full moon, tie wish papers to a bonfire, crack nuts |
| Japan, Tanabata | July 7 (August in some regions) | Write wishes on paper strips and hang them on bamboo |
| Spain, twelve grapes | Midnight, December 31 | Eat one grape at each of the twelve chimes |
| Birthday candles | Birthdays | Wish silently and blow out the candles in one go |
| Fountain coins | Travel | Toss a coin to wish you will return |
Why sky lanterns get banned
A sky lantern rises on air heated by a flame inside, and nobody controls where it lands. In 2018 in Goyang, Korea, a lantern drifted about 300 meters and came down near an oil storage depot; its embers started a fire that caused heavy damage.
Korea’s fire prevention law now bans anyone from flying sky lanterns and other small hot-air balloons in designated fire-risk zones, and many other countries and local governments ban or restrict them as well. Festivals that release lanterns do so with fire-service agreements. Releasing one yourself near forests or fields is not worth the risk.
Fire-free versions
- Wish paper — write it, fold it, open it a year later.
- LED lanterns — keep them on a windowsill instead of releasing them.
- Tanabata-style — hang wish papers on a houseplant or a wall.
- Digital fireworks — launch the wish on your phone, as below.
Launch a wish on your phone
Use the Lantern festival sky
Wish Fireworks has a Lantern festival night sky under Decorate (unlocks for good after one ad). Launch your wish into it instead of releasing a real lantern.
Your wish, one year ago today
When a wish saved in your Wish Book turns one year old (give or take a day), a Your wish, one year ago today card appears on the Launch tab, much like opening a wish paper a year later. You can launch that wish again from there.
Read wishes that became stars
On the Sky tab, tap a star to read that day’s wish. Filter by feeling or by period (last 7 days, 30 days, this year).
FAQ
Are bonfire festivals still allowed?
They are run by local governments with fire-safety measures, and are sometimes cancelled in dry or windy years.
Isn’t a wish supposed to stay secret?
Many cultures say so. In the app your wishes are stored only on your device and never sent to a server.
Wish Fireworks
No sign-up, and your wishes stay on your phone. Free on Android.