From the earliest times, man has simply not gone gently into that fading light. When primitive cave fires (which also served as primary heat sources, ersatz ovens and barbecues, as well as the world’s first illuminates) gave way to the basic torch, which was eventually wall-mounted for expediency’s sake, the modern outdoor lantern was born.

It was not uncommon to see lanterns of all sizes and shapes throughout antiquity.  Often decorative in nature and quite frequently used for both symbolic and ritualistic purposes other than their intended practical use, these most operationally simple lanterns and lamps were illuminated by candles made from fats, waxes, and oils of various and sundry origin.

Moving outside of the dwelling, outdoor lanterns adorning garden walls and hanging lanterns strung over busy market squares at nightfall manifested the natural development of civilization’s  manipulation of artificial (or, rather, non-naturally occurring) light sources.

Indeed, centuries before gas and electric streetlights became regular parts of the modern landscape; outdoor candle lanterns lined the roads and byways of pre-Industrial Revolution society, and, in many parts of the developing world, still do.

However, largely overlooked beyond the practical discussion of the utility of the hanging, or outdoor lantern is the matter of the sheer aesthetic pleasantness of the warm glow of light against the blackness of the night.  The allure instinctively draws us closer to the light source as much today as it did to our cave-dwelling ancestors.  Picnics, beach parties, and social gatherings of all types take on a special tone when the sun goes down, and yet the atmosphere remains convivial and cozy, basking in the product of a well-placed series of hanging or wall lanterns, some still holding flickering candles, others now fueled by battery or combustible (for example, kerosene).

In the contemporary world, it is unthinkable to imagine the night as not being unconquerable by the simple flick of a light switch.  The evolution of outdoor lighting has taken us well beyond the oil lanterns and lamps hanging in Caesar’s gardens or Louis XIV’s palace walls to the illumination of Chicago’s Wrigley Field, but the simple pleasure of an outside lantern on a dark summer’s evening can be the stuff of which dreams can be made.

When you are camping you can enjoy the night with the simple glow of a lantern or the campfire. Be sure and get away from the city glow so you can see the stars glow brightly. There are different types of lanterns for maximum enjoyment from electrical to gas powered.